University  of  California  •  Berkeley 

JOSEPH  M.BRANSTEN 
COFFEE  &  TEA  COLLECTION 

Acquired  in  memory  of 
JOSEPH  M.  BRANSTEN 


DESTRUCTION     OF     THE    TEA     IN     BOSTON     HARBOR,     1773. 


TEA    LEAVES: 

BEING     A     COLLECTION     OF     LETTERS     AND 

DOCUMENTS 

RELATING     TO     THE     SHIPMENT     OF 

TEA 

TO     THE     AMERICAN     COLONIES     IN     THE     YEAR     1773,     BY     THE 

fewt  3nbta 

NOW    FIRST    PRINTED    FROM    THE    ORIGINAL    MANUSCRIPT. 

WITH     AN     INTRODUCTION,     NOTES,     AND 
BIOGRAPHICAL     NOTICES     OF     THE     BOSTON     TEA     PARTY, 

BY 

FRANCIS    S.    DRAKE. 


BOSTON : 

A.       O.      CRANE. 
1884. 


COPYRIGHTED. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D  C. 
By  A.  O.  CRANE,  Boston,  Mass. 


SMITH  &  PORTER,  PRINTERS,  BOSTON. 


PREFATORY     NOTE. 


The  collection  of  letters  and  documents  which  has  occa- 
sioned the  preparation  of  the  present  volume,  though  it  has 
been  so  long  buried  in  obscurity,  appears  to  have  been  orig- 
inally made  with  a  view  to  publication.  It  was  for  many 
years,  and  until  his  decease,  in  the  possession  of  Mr.  Abel 
Bowen,  a  well-known  engraver  and  publisher,  of  Boston,  sixty 
years  ago,  and  was  obtained  by  him  from  a  person  who  pro- 
cured it  in  Halifax,  N.S.,  whither  many  valuable  papers,  both 
public  and  private,  relating  to  New  England,  were  carried, 
when  in  March,  1776,  the  British  and  Tories  evacuated 
Boston.  It  contains  interesting  information  relative  to  the 
tea  troubles  that  preceded  the  American  Revolution,  much 
of  it  new  to  students  of  that  eventful  period. 

To  the  kindness  of  Mrs.  Benjamin  Phipps  and  Mrs. 
Charles  G.  Butts,  of  Chelsea,  daughters  of  Mr.  Bowen,  the 
publisher  is  indebted  for  permission  to  make  public  this 
valuable  contribution  to  American  history. 


PUBLISHER'S     PREFACE. 


When  contemplating  the  publication  of  "Tea  Leaves,"  we  issued  a  circular, 
stating  our  intention,  and  that,  judging  from  the  material  then  in  our  possession, 
the  book  would  contain  about  two  hundred  and  fifty  pages,  with  six  illustrations, 
three  of  them  portraits. 

We  are  happy  to  announce  on  the  completion  of  the  work,  not  only  fulfillment 
of  our  promises,  but  much  that  is  additional  thereto.  Included  in  its  four 
hundred  pages  are  twenty  portraits,  taken  from  family  paintings,  (one-half  never 
before  published,)  eight  other  illustrations,  fifty  autographs,  one  hundred  and 
twelve  names  of  members  of  the  Tea  Party,  (fifty-eight  more  than  have  been 
heretofore  publicly  known),  and  ninety-six  biographies  of  the  same. 

Our  circular  called  for  a  subscription  book.  All  our  paper-covered  copies  have 
been  subscribed  for.  The  balance  of  the  edition  is  nicely  bound  in  cloth,  with 
embellished  covers.  Price,  (as  before),  five  dollars. 

The  publisher  will  welcome  all  new  matter  relating  to  the  Tea  question,  and 
will  be  especially  grateful  for  any  hitherto  unpublished  portraits.  Such  material 
is  desired  for  possible  publication  in  a  companion  work  to  "  Tea  Leaves." 

All  who  desire  the  Portraits  and  Illustrations  separate  from  this  volume,  to  be 
used  in  works  on  American  history,  can  obtain  them  from  the  Publisher. 

In  conclusion,  we  thank  our  friends  who  have  kindly  assisted  us,  and  if  we 
have  not  given  all  credit  by  name,  the  neglect  has  been  unintentional. 

A.    O.   CRANE, 

2169  WASHINGTON  ST., 

BOSTON,  MASS. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Among  the  causes  which  led  to  the  American  Revolution, 
the  one  most  prominent  in  the  popular  judgment  is  the  "tax 
on  tea,"  imposed  by  Great  Britain  on  her  American  colonies. 
The  destruction,  in  Boston  harbor,  in  December,  1773,  of  the 
cargoes  of  tea  sent  to  that  port  by  the  East  India  Company, 
was  undoubtedly  the  proximate  cause  of  that  memorable 
event,  and  in  view  of  this  fact,  the  occurrence,  — "  by  far  the 
most  momentous  in  the  annals  of  the  town,"  says  the  historian 
Bancroft,  —  merits  a  more  thorough  and  particular  considera- 
tion than  it  has  yet  received. 

The  silence  necessarily  preserved  by  the  actors  in  this 
daring  exploit,  respecting  their  connection  with  it,  has  ren- 
dered this  part  of  the  task  one  of  no  little  difficulty.  Their 
secret  was  remarkably  well  kept;  and  but  for  the  family 
traditions  which  survive,  we  should  know  very  little  of  the 
men  who  composed  the  famous  Boston  tea  party. 

Nevertheless,  the  attempt  to  gather  up  the  scattered  frag- 
ments of  personal  reminiscence  and  biography,  in  order  to 
give  a  little  more  completeness  to  this  interesting  chapter 
of  our  revolutionary  history,  is  here  made.  The  fortunate 
recovery,  by  the  publisher  of  this  volume,  of  the  letters  of  the 


vi  INTRODUCTION. 

American  consignees  to  the  East  India  Company,  and  other 
papers  shedding  light  upon  the  transaction,  affords  material 
aid  in  the  accomplishment  of  our  purpose. 

When  King  Charles  II.  had  finished  that  first  cup  of  tea 
ever  brewed  in  England,  —  the  gift  of  the  newly-created 
East  India  Company,  —  no  sibyl  was  at  hand  to  peer  into 
the  monarch's  cup  and  foretell  from  its  dregs,  the  dire  disaster 
to  his  realm,  hidden  among  those  insignificant  particles. 
Could  a  vision  of  those  battered  tea  chests,  floating  in  Boston 
harbor,  with  tu  doces,  in  the  legible  handwriting  of  history, 
inscribed  upon  them,  have  been  disclosed  to  him,  even  that 
careless,  pleasure-loving  prince  would  have  been  sobered  by 
the  lesson.  It  was  left  for  his  successor,  George  III.,  who 
failed  to  read  the  handwriting  on  the  wall,  —  visible  to  all  but 
the  willfully  blind, — to  realize  its  meaning  in  the  dismember- 
ment of  an  empire. 

A  survey  of  the  progress  of  the  revolution  up  to  the  be- 
ginning of  the  year  1773,  will  help  us  to  understand  the 
political  situation.  Ten  years  of  constant  agitation  had  edu- 
cated the  people  of  the  colonies  to  a  clear  perception  of 
their  rights,  and  also  to  a  knowledge  that  it  was  the  fixed 
purpose  of  the  home  government  to  deprive  them  of  the 
one  they  most  valued,  namely,  that  of  being  taxed  with  their 
own  consent,  through  their  local  assemblies,  as  had  always 
been  the  custom,  and  not  at  the  arbitrary  will  of  the  British 
parliament — a  body  in  which  they  were  not  and  could  not  be 
represented — three  thousand  miles  away.  The  strange  thing 
about  this  is,  that  the  people  of  Great  Britain  should  not  have 
seen  in  the  light  of  their  own  past  history — what  they  have 


INTRODUCTION.  vn 

since  seen  clearly  enough  —  that  the  Americans  were  only 
contending  for  principles  for  which  their  own  ancestors  had 
often  fought,  and  which  they  had  more  than  once  succeeded 
in  wresting  from  the  grasp  of  arbitrary  and  tyrannical  sover- 
eigns. 

Their  difficulty  seems  to  have  been  that  they  looked  upon 
the  Americans,  not  as  equals,  but  as  inferiors,  as  their  subjects, 
and  as  having  no  rights  that  an  Englishman  was  bound  to 
respect.  Even  the  celebrated  moralist,  Dr.  Johnson,  could 
say  of  the  Americans,  "  They  are  a  race  of  convicts,  and  ought 
to  be  thankful  for  anything  we  allow  them  short  of  hanging." 
King  George  III.,  that  obstinate  but  well-meaning  monarch, 
and  his  ministers,  no  doubt  honestly  believed  that  the  re- 
publican tendencies  of  the  colonists  endangered  British 
supremacy.  Perhaps  they  were  right  in  this,  for  it  was  the 
kind  and  degree  of  supremacy  that  was  really  in  question. 
But  in  entertaining  the  belief  that  these  tendencies  could  be 
eradicated  at  a  blow,  they  were,  as  the  event  proved,  grievously 
mistaken. 

Another  moving  cause  for  the  new  policy  toward  the  colo- 
nies was  the  heavy  taxation  at  home,  —  a  result  of  the  late  war.  >" 
Some  of  this  burden  they  hoped  to  transfer  from  their   own 
shoulders  to  those  of  their  transatlantic  brethren. 

The  stamp  act  of  1765,  repealed  in  the  year  following, 
was  in  1767,  succeeded  by  Charles  Townshend's  revenue  acts, 
imposing  duties  on  paper,  painters'  colors,  glass  and  tea.  The 
Americans  opposed  this  measure  with  the  only  weapon  at 
their  command  —  the  policy  of  non-importation.  This  policy, 
while  causing  much  inconvenience  to  themselves,  yet  helped 
them  materially  in  two  ways.  In  the  first  place  it  stimulated 


vni  INTRODUCTION. 

home  manufactures,  and  accustomed  the  people  to  do  without 
luxuries,  and  in  the  second  place  by  distressing  British  mer- 
chants and  manufacturers,  it  brought  the  united  influence 
of  these  two  powerful  bodies  to  bear  upon  parliament  for  a 
change  in  its  policy. 

The  people  of  the  colonies  everywhere  seconded  the  non- 
importation movement,  entering  at  once  upon  a  course  of  rigid 
self-denial,  and  their  legislatures  commended  the  scheme. 
An  agreement,  presented  in  the  Virginia  House  of  Burgesses, 
by  Washington,  was  signed  by  every  member.  For  more 
than  a  year,  this  powerful  engine  of  retaliation  waged  war 
upon  British  commerce,  in  a  constitutional  way,  before  minis- 
ters would  listen  to  petitions  and  remonstrances ;  and  it  was 
not  until  virtual  rebellion  in  the  British  capital,  born  of 
commercial  distress,  menaced  the  ministry,  that  the  expostu- 
lations of  the  Americans  were  noticed,  except  with  sneers. 
Early  in  the  year  1770,  the  obnoxious  act  was  repealed,  except 
as  regarded  tea.  This  item  was  retained  in  order  that  the 
right  of  parliamentary  taxation  of  the  colonies  might  be 
upheld.  The  liberal  leaders  of  parliament  did  their  best  to 
prevent  this  exception,  and  the  subject  was  fully  and  ably 
discussed,  but  they  were  overruled. 

Besides  these  acts,  which  had  aroused  in  the  colonies  a 
sentiment  of  union,  and  embodied  an  intelligent  public  opin- 
ion, there  were  others  which  had  contributed  to  the  same 
result.  Such  were  the  royal  instructions  by  which,  among 
other  things,  accused  persons  were  to  be  sent  to  England,  for 
trial.  Still  another,  was  the  publication  of  a  collection  of 
letters  from  Governor  Hutchinson,  and  other  prominent  co- 
lonial officials,  revealing  their  agency  in  instigating  the  obnox- 
ious measures.  These  and  other  aggravating  causes  had  at 


INTRODUCTION.  ix 

length  brought  about  that,  without  which,  no  revolution  can 
succeed,  —  organization.  Committees  of  correspondence,  local 
and  general,  had  been  created,  and  were  now  in  full  operation. 

One  thing  more  was  essential  to  the  success  of  the  colo- 
nists,—  union.  Instead  of  pulling  different  ways,  as  from  a 
variety  of  causes  they  had  hitherto  done,  the  different  colonies 
must  bring  their  combined  efforts  to  bear  in  order  to  effect  the 
desired  result.  This  was  brought  about  by  the  destruction 
of  the  tea  in  Boston  harbor,  and  by  the  Boston  port  bill,  and 
other  coercive  measures,  its  immediate  consequence. 

The  impolitic  reservation  of  the  duty  on  tea  produced  an 
association  not  to  drink  it,  and  caused  all  the  merchants, 
except  a  few  in  Boston,  to  refuse  its  importation. 

Three  hundred  women  of  Boston,  heads  of  families,  among 
them  many  of  the  highest  standing,  had,  as  early  as  February, 
1770,  signed  an  agreement  not  to  drink  any  tea  until  the 
impost  clause  of  the  revenue  acts  was  repealed.  The  daugh- 
ters of  liberty,  both  north  and  south,  did  the  same.  The 
young  women  of  Boston  followed  the  example  of  their  mothers, 
and  subscribed  to  the  following  pledge : 

"  We,  the  daughters  of  those  patriots  who  have,  and  do  now  appear  for  the 
public  interest,  and  in  that  principally  regard  their  posterity,  as  such  do  with 
pleasure  engage  with  them  in  denying  ourselves  the  drinking  of  foreign  tea,  in 
hopes  to  frustrate  a  plan  that  tends  to  deprive  a  whole  community  of  all  that  is 
valuable  in  life." 

From  this  time  forth  tea  was  a  proscribed  beverage  through- 
out the  colonies.  "  Balsamic  hyperion,"  made  from  the  dried 
leaves  of  the  raspberry  plant ;  thyme,  extensively  used  by  the 
women  of  Connecticut;  and  various  other  substitutes  came  into 
general  use.  The  newspapers  of  the  day  abound  with  details 
of  social  gatherings,  in  which  foreign  tea  was  totally  discarded. 


x  INTRODUCTION. 

They  also  voiced  the  public  abhorrence  for  it,  or  what  it 
represented,  by  applying  to  it  all  the  objurgatory  and  abusive 
epithets  they  could  muster — and  their  vocabulary  was  by  no 
means  limited — such  as  "detestable,"  "cruel,"  "villainous," 
"pernicious,"  "fatal,"  "devilish,"  "fiendish,"  etc. 

Of  course  there  were  those  who  would  not  deny  themselves 
the  use  of  tea,  —  drinking  it  clandestinely  in  garrets,  or  pre- 
paring it  in  coffee-pots  to  deceive  the  eye,  resorting  to  any 
subterfuge  in  order  to  indulge  in  the  use  of  their  favorite 
beverage.  These  people,  when  found  out,  did  not  fail  to 
receive  the  condemnation  of  the  patriotic  men  and  women, 
who,  from  principle,  abstained.  There  was  still  a  considerable 
consumption  of  tea  in  America,  as  the  article  could  be 
obtained  more  cheaply  from  Holland  than  from  the  English 
East  India  Company,  and  on  arrival  here  could  easily  be 
smuggled  ashore.  It  was  supposed  that  of  the  three  millions  of 
inhabitants  of  the  colonies,  one-third  drank  tea  twice  a  day, 
Bohea  being  the  kind  preferred ;  and  it  was  estimated  that 
the  annual  consumption,  in  Massachusetts  alone,  was  two 
thousand  four  hundred  chests,  some  eight  hundred  thousand 
pounds. 

Tea  continued  to  arrive  in  Boston,  but  as  no  one  would 
risk  its  sale,  it  was  stored.  The  "  Boston  Gazette,"  in  April, 
1770,  said:  "  There  is  not  above  one  seller  of  tea  in  town  who 
has  not  signed  an  agreement  not  to  dispose  of  any  tea  until 
the  late  revenue  acts  are  repealed." 

John  Hancock  offered  one  of  his  vessels,  free  of  charge,  to 
re-ship  the  tea  then  stored  in  Boston.  His  offer  was  accepted, 
and  a  cargo  despatched  to  London.  So  strict  was  the  watch 
kept  upon  the  traders,  that  many  of  those  suspected  of  illicit 
dealings  in  tea,  among  whom  was  Hancock  himself,  found 


INTRODUCTION.  xi 

it  convenient  to  publish  cards  declaring  their  innocence. 
Governor  Hutchinson  wrote  at  this  time  (April,  1770,)  to  Lord 
Hillsborough,  the  English  secretary,  "  That  the  importers 
pleaded  that  they  should  be  utterly  ruined  by  this  combination, 
but  the  Boston  zealots  had  no  bowels,  and  gave  for  answer, 
'  that  if  a  ship  was  to  bring  us  the  plague,  nobody  would  doubt 
what  was  necessary  to  be  done  with  her;'  but  the  present  case 
is  much  worse  than  that."  Theophilus  Lillie,  who  was  selling 
tea  contrary  to  the  agreement,  found,  one  morning,  a  post 
planted  before  his  door,  upon  which  was  a  carved  head,  with 
the  names  of  some  tea  importers  on  it,  and  underneath,  a  hand 
pointing  towards  his  shop.  One  of  his  neighbors,  an  in- 
former, named  Richardson,  asked  a  countryman  to  break  the 
post  down  with  his  cart.  A  crowd  gathered,  and  boys  threw 
stones  and  chased  Richardson  to  his  house.  He  fired  into 
them  with  a  shotgun,  and  killed  a  German  lad  of  eleven  years, 
named  Snider.  At  his  funeral,  five  hundred  children  walked 
in  front  of  the  bier;  six  of  his  school-fellows  held  the  pall, 
and  a  large  procession  moved  from  liberty  tree  to  the  town- 
house,  and  thence  to  the  bury  ing-place.  This  exciting  affair, 
preceded  by  a  few  days  only,  the  memorable  "  Boston  massa- 
cre" of  March  5,  1770. 

The  application  of  the  East  India  Company  to  the  British 
government  for  relief  from  pecuniary  embarrassment,  occa- 
sioned by  the  great  falling  off  in  its  American  tea  trade, 
afforded  the  ministry  just  the  opportunity  it  desired  to  fasten 
taxation  upon  the  American  colonies.  The  company  asked 
permission  to  export  tea  to  British  America,  free  of  duty, 
offering  to  allow  government  to  retain  sixpence  per  pound, 
as  an  exportation  tariff,  if  they  would  take 'off  the  three  per 


xii  INTRODUCTION. 

cent,  duty,  in  America.  This  gave  an  opportunity  for  con- 
ciliating the  colonies  in  an  honorable  way,  and  also  to  procure 
double  the  amount  of  revenue.  But  no !  under  the  existing 
coercive  policy,  this  request  was  of  course  inadmissible.  At 
this  time  the  company  had  in  its  warehouses  upwards  of 
seventeen  millions  of  pounds,  in  addition  to  which  the  impor- 
tations of  the  current  year  were  expected  to  be  larger  than 
usual.  To  such  a  strait  was  it  reduced,  that  it  could  neither 
pay  its  dividends  nor  its  debts. 

By  an  act  of  parliament,  passed  on  May  10,  1773,  "with 
little  debate  and  no  opposition,"  the  company,  on  exportation 
of  its  teas  to  America,  was  allowed  a  drawback  of  the  full 
amount  of  English  duties,  binding  itself  only  to  pay  the  three- 
pence duty,  on  its  being  landed  in  the  English  colonies. 

In  accordance  with  this  act,  the  lords-commissioners  of  the 
treasury  gave  the  company  a  license  (August  20,  1773,)  for  the 
exportation  of  six  hundred  thousand  pounds,  which  were  to  be 
sent  to  Boston,  New  York,  Philadelphia  and  Charleston,  S.C., 
the  principal  American  ports.  As  soon  as  this  became 
known,  applications  were  made  to  the  directors  by  a  number 
of  merchants  in  the  colonial  trade,  soliciting  a  share  of  what 
promised  to  be  a  very  profitable  business.  The  establishment 
of  a  branch  East  India  house,  in  a  central  part  of  America, 
whence  the  tea  could  be  distributed  to  other  points,  was  sug- 
gested. The  plan  finally  adopted  was  to  bestow  the  agency 
on  merchants,  in  good  repute,  in  the  colonies,  who  were 
friendly  to  the  administration,  and  who  could  give  satisfactory 
security,  or  obtain  the  guaranty  of  London  houses. 

The  company  and  its  agents  viewed  this  matter  solely 
in  a  commercial  light.  No  one  supposed  that  the  Ameri- 
cans would  oppose  the  measure  on  the  ground  of  abstract 


INTRODUCTION.  XTII 

principle.  The  only  doubt  was  as  to  whether  the  company 
could,  merely  with  the  threepenny  duty,  compete  successfully 
with  the  smugglers,  who  brought  tea  from  Holland.  It  was 
hoped  they  might,  and  that  the  difference  would  not  com- 
pensate for  the  risk  in  smuggling.  But  the  Americans  at 
once  saw  through  the  scheme,  and  that  its  success  would  be 
fatal  to  their  liberties. 

The  new  tea  act,  by  again  raising  the  question  of  general 
taxation,  diverted  attention  from  local  issues,  and  concentrated 
it  upon  one  which  had  been  already  fully  discussed,  and  or 
which  the  popular  verdict  had  been  definitely  made  up. 
Right  and  justice  were  clearly  on  their  side.  It  was  not  that 
they  were  poor  and  unable  to  pay,  but  because  they  would 
not  submit  to  wrong.  The  amount  of  the  tax  was  paltry,  and 
had  never  been  in  question.  Their  case  was  not  —  as  in 
most  revolutions  —  that  of  a  people  who  rose  against  real 
and  palpable  oppression.  It  was  an  abstract  principle  alone 
for  which  they  contended.  They  were  prosperous  and  happy. 
It  was  upon  a  community,  at  the  very  height  of  its  pros- 
perity, that  this  insidious  scheme  suddenly  fell,  and  it  immedi- 
ately aroused  a  more  general  opposition  than  had  been  created 
by  the  stamp  act.  "  The  measure,"  says  the  judicious  English 
historian,  Massey,  "was  beneficial  to  the  colonies;  but  when 
was  a  people  engaged  in  a  generous  struggle  for  freedom, 
deviated  by  an  insidious  attempt  to  practice  on  their  selfish 
interests  ? " 

"  The  ministry  believe,"  wrote  Franklin,  "  that  threepence 
on  a  pound  of  tea,  of  which  one  does  not  perhaps  drink  ten 
pounds  a  year,  is  sufficient  to  overcome  all  the  patriotism  of 
an  American."  The  measure  gave  universal  offence,  not  only 
as  the  enforcement  of  taxation,  but  as  an  odious  monopoly  of 


xiv  INTRODUCTION. 

trade.  To  the  warning  of  Americans  that  their  adventure 
would  end  in  loss,  and  to  the  scruples  of  the  company,  Lord 
North  answered  peremptorily,  "  It  is  to  no  purpose  making 
objections,  the  king  will  have  it  so.  The  king  means  to  try 
the  question  with  America."  How  absurd  was  this  assertion 
of  prerogative,  and  how  weak  the  government,  was  seen  when 
on  the  first  forcible  resistance  to  his  plans,  the  king  was  com- 
pelled to  apply  to  the  petty  German  states  for  soldiers.  Lord 
North  believed  that  no  difficulty  could  arise,  as  America,  under 
the  new  regulation,  would  be  able  to  buy  tea1  from  the  com- 
pany at  a  lower  price  than  from  any  other  European  nation, 
and  that  buyers  would  always  go  to  the  cheapest  market. 

Before  receiving  intelligence  of  the  passage  of  the  new  act, 
in  the  summer  of  1773,  political  agitation  in  the  colonies  had 
in  great  measure  subsided.  The  ministry  had  abandoned 
its  design  of  transporting  Americans  to  England  for  trial ; 
the  people  were  prosperous ;  loyal  to  the  king ;  considered 
themselves  as  fellow  subjects  with  Britons,  and  indignantly 
repelled  the  idea  of  severing  their  political  connection.  The 
king,  however,  was  obstinately  bent  upon  maintaining  the 
supreme  authority  of  parliament  to  make  laws  binding  on 
the  colonies  "  in  all  cases  whatsoever."  He  was  unfortunate 
in  having  for  his  chief  adviser,  Lord  North,  who  sought  to 
please  the  king  even  against  his  own  better  judgment.  He 
was  still  more  unfortunate  in  North's  colleagues, — Mansfield, 

1  Dr.  Holmes,  the  annalist,  says,  that  (now  Carver,)  Mass.,  between    1760  and 

tea  began  to  be  used   in  New  England  1765.      When  ladies  went  to  visiting  par- 

in  1720.       Small   quantities,  must,  how-  ties,  each  one  carried  her  tea-cup,  saucer, 

ever,  have  been  made  many  years  before,  and  spoon.     The  cups  were  of  the  best 

as  small   copper  tea-kettles  were  in  use  china,  very   small,  containing   about   as 

in   Plymouth,  in    1702.      The  first   cast-  much  as  a  common  wine-glass, 
iron  tea-kettles  were  made  in  Plympton, 


INTRODUCTION.  xv 

Sandwich,  Germaine,  Wedderburne  and  Thurlow, — violent  or 
corrupt  men,  wholly  unfit  for  the  grave  responsibilities  they 
had  assumed. 

Governor  Hutchinson1  asserts  that  "when  the  intelligence 
first  came  to  Boston  it  caused  no  alarm.  The  threepenny 
duty  had  been  paid  the  last  two  years  without  any  stir,  and 
some  of  the  great  friends  to  liberty  had  been  importers  of 
tea.  The  body  of  the  people  were  pleased  with  the  prospect 
of  drinking  tea  at  less  expense  than  ever.  The  only  appar- 
ent discontent  was  among  the  importers  of  tea,  as  well 
those  who  had  been  legal  importers  from  England,  as  others 
who  had  illegally  imported  from  Holland,  and  the  complaint 
was  against  the  East  India  Company  for  monopolizing  a 
branch  of  commerce  which  had  been  beneficial  to  a  great 
number  of  merchants." 

The  circular-letter  of  the  Massachusetts  Committee  of 
Correspondence  of  October  21,  1773,  —  by  which  time  the 
public  sentiment  against  the  new  regulation  had  been  thor- 
oughly aroused,  —  said  of  it:  "  It  is  easy  to  see  how  aptly  this 
scheme  will  serve  both  to  destroy  the  trade  of  the  colonies 
and  increase  the  revenue.  How  necessary  then  it  is  that  each 
colony  should  take  effectual  methods  to  prevent  this  measure 
from  having  its  designed  effects." 

One  of  the  Boston  consignees  writing  to  London,  says, 
under  date  of  i8th  October:  "But  what  difficulties  may  arise 
from  the  disaffection  of  the  merchants  and  importers  of  tea 
to  this  measure  of  the  East  India  Company,  I  am  not  yet  able 
to  say.  It  seems  at  present  to  be  a  matter  of  much  specu- 
lation, and  if  one  is  to  credit  the  prints,  no  small  opposition 
will  be  made  thereto.  .  .  .  My  friends  seem  to  think  it  will 

1  Hist,  of  Mass.,  iii.  422. 


xvi  INTRODUCTION. 

subside  ;  others  are  of  a  contrary  opinion."  Another,  under 
date  of  October  3oth,  gives  it  as  his  opinion  that  the  un- 
easiness is  fomented,  if  not  originated,  by  persons  concerned 
in  the  Holland  trade,  a  trade  which,  he  is  informed,  is  much 
more  practiced  in  the  Southern  governments  than  here. 

In  a  letter  dated  New  York,  November  5th,  Abraham  Lott, 
one  of  the  New  York  consignees,  says,  that  if  the  tea  arrives 
subject  to  duty,  "  there  will  be  no  such  thing  as  selling  it,  as 
the  people  would  rather  buy  so  much  poison,  as  they  say  it  is 
calculated  to  enslave  them  and  their  posterity,  and  are  there- 
fore determined  not  to  take  what  they  call  the  nauseous 
draught."  The  tenor  of  these  letters  and  of  the  American 
newspapers,  must  have  given  the  British  public  an  inkling  of 
what  was  to  come. 

It  was  thought  by  all  the  colonies  that  this  was  the  precise 
point  of  time  when  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  make  a 
stand,  and  that  all  opposition  to  parliamentary  taxation  must 
be  for  ever  given  up,  if  this  critical  moment  was  neglected. 
The  only  practical  way  open  to  defeat  the  measure  seemed 
to  be  through  popular  demonstrations. 

The  press  now  became  more  active  than  ever  in  its  political 
discussions.  As  to  the  mode  of  payment  of  the  tea  duty,  it 
said :  "  We  know  that  on  a  certificate  of  its  being  landed  here, 
the  tribute  is,  by  agreement,  to  be  paid  in  London.  The 
landing,  therefore,  is  the  point  in  view,  and  every  nerve  will 
be  strained  to  obtain  it."  It  was  asked  in  New  York,  "are 
the  Americans  such  blockheads  as  to  care  whether  it  be  a 
hot  red  poker,  or  a  red  hot  poker  which  they  are  to  swallow, 
provided  Lord  North  forces  them  to  swallow  one  of  the  two  ? " 

"  All  America  is  in  a  flame  on  account  of  the  tea  exporta- 
tion," wrote  a  British  officer  at  New  York  to  a  friend  in  Lon- 


INTRODUCTION.  xvn 

don.  "  The  New  Yorkers,  as  well  as  the  Bostonians  and 
Philadelphians,  it  seems,  are  determined  that  no  tea  shall  be 
landed.  They  have  published  a  paper  in  numbers  called  the 
'  Alarm.'  It  begins,  '  Dear  countrymen,'  and  goes  on  exhort- 
ing them  to  open  their  eyes,  and  then,  like  sons  of  liberty, 
throw  off  all  connection  with  the  tyrant — the  mother  country.' 
They  have  on  this  occasion  raised  a  company  of  artillery,  and 
every  day  almost,  are  practicing  at  a  target.  Their  inde- 
pendent companies  are  out,  and  exercise  every  day.  The 
minds  of  the  townspeople  are  influenced  by  the  example  of 
some  of  their  principals.  They  swear  that  they  will  burn 
every  tea-ship  that  comes  in ;  but  I  believe  that  our  six  and 
twelve  pounders,  with  the  Royal  Welch  Fusileers,  will  prevent 
anything  of  that  kind." 

Philadelphia,  the  largest  town  in  the  colonies,  led  off  in  the 
work  of  opposing  the  plans  of  the  home  government.  In  a 
handbill  signed  "  Scaevola,"  circulated  there,  with  the  heading, 
"  By  uniting  we  stand,  by  dividing  we  fall,"  the  factors  ap- 
pointed, by  the  East  India  Company  were  characterized  as 
"  political  bombardiers  to  demolish  the  fair  structure  of 
liberty ; "  and  it  was  said  that  all  eyes  were  fixed  on  them, 
and  they  were  urged  to  refuse  to  act. 

At  a  large  meeting  held  at  the  State  House  on  October  18, 
resolutions  were  passed  declaring  that  the  duty  on  tea  was  a 
tax  imposed  on  the  colonists  without  their  consent,  and 
tended  to  render  assemblies  useless  ;  that  the  shipment  by  the 
East  India  Company  was  an  attempt  to  enforce  the  tax,  and 
that  every  one  who  should  be  concerned  in  the  unloading, 
receiving  or  vending  the  tea,  was  an  enemy  to  his  country. 
In  accordance  with  one  of  the  resolutions  of  the  meeting,  a 
committee  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  consignees  in  that 


xvin  INTRODUCTION. 

city,  to  request  them,  from  regard  to  their  own  characters 
and  the  public  peace,  and  good  order  of  the  city  and  Prov- 
ince, immediately  to  resign  their  appointment.  The  Messrs. 
Wharton  gave  a  satisfactory  answer,  which  was  received 
with  shouts  of  applause.  Groans  and  hisses  greeted  the 
refusal  of  another  firm  to  commit  themselves,  until  the  tea 
arrived.  So  general  and  so  commanding  was  the  movement, 
however,  that  in  a  few  days  they  also  resigned.  "  Be  as- 
sured," wrote  Thomas  Wharton,  one  of  the  consignees,  "  this 
was  as  respectable  a  body  of  inhabitants  as  has  been  to- 
gether on  any  occasion,  many  of  the  first  rank.  Their  pro- 
ceedings were  conducted  with  the  greatest  decency  and 
firmness,  and  without  one  dissentient  voice." 

A  few  days  after  the  action  of  Philadelphia,  a  meeting 
was  held  at  the  city  hall,  New  York,  (October  26,)  when  the 
tea  consignees  were  denounced,  and  the  attempted  monopoly 
of  trade  was  stigmatized  as  a  "  public  robbery."  The  press 
was  active,  and  handbills  were  circulated  freely  among  the 
people.  A  series  of  these  called  the  "  Alarm,"  has  been 
already  mentioned.  ''  If  you  touch  one  grain  of  the  accursed 
tea  you  are  undone,"  was  the  sentiment  it  conveyed.  "  Amer- 
ica is  threatened  with  worse  than  Egyptian  slavery.  .  .  . 
The  language  of  the  revenue  act  is,  that  you  have  no 
property  you  can  call  your  own,  that  you  are  the  vassals,  the 
live  stock,  of  Great  Britain."  Such  were  the  bold  utterances 
of  the  New  Yorkers.  Within  three  weeks  the  New  York 
agents  withdrew  from  the  field.  It  was  thereupon  an- 
nounced that  government  would  take  charge  of  the  tea 
upon  its  arrival. 

The  New  York  Sons  of  Liberty  at  once  reorganized;  owners 
and  occupants  of  stores  were  warned  against  harboring  the 


INTRODUCTION.  xix 

tea,  and  all  who  bought,  sold  or  handled  it,  were  threatened 
as  enemies  to  the  country.  Handbills  were  issued,  notifying 
the  "  Mohawks "  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  active 
work.  At  the  very  moment  when  the  tea  was  being  des- 
troyed in  Boston,  handbills  were  circulating  in  New  York 
calling  a  meeting  of  "  all  friends  to  the  liberties  and  trade 
of  America,"  for  one  o'clock  the  next  day,  at  the  city  hall, 
"  on  business  of  the  utmost  importance." 

John  Lamb,  one  of  the  most  active  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty 
of  New  York,  afterwards  a  colonel  of  artillery  in  the  Revo- 
lutionary army,  was  the  speaker  at  the  meeting,  and  the 
large  assembly  unanimously  voted  that  the  tea  should  not 
be  landed.  The  governor  sent  a  message  to  the  people  by 
the  mayor,  engaging  upon  his  honor  that  the  tea  should 
not  be  sold,  but  should  remain  in  the  barracks  until  the 
council  advised  to  the  delivery  of  it,  or  orders  were  received 
from  England  how  to  dispose  of  it,  and  that  it  should  be 
delivered  in  an  open  manner  at  noon-day.  The  mayor  hav- 
ing asked  if  the  proposals  were  satisfactory,  there  was  a 
general  cry  of  •'  no !  no ! "  The  people  were  at  length 
quieted  with  the  assurance  that  the  ship  should  be  sent 
back. 

It  was  at  Boston,  the  ringleader  in  rebellion,  that  the 
issue  was  to  be  tried.  It  was  then  the  most  flourishing 

o 

commercial  town  on  the  continent,  and  contained  a  popula- 
tion of  about  sixteen  thousand,  almost  exclusively  of  English 
origin.  Though  there  were  no  sidewalks  in  the  town,  and, 
except  when  driven  aside  by  carts  or  carriages,  every  one 
walked  in  the  middle  of  the  street,  "where  the  pavement 
was  the  smoothest,"  an  English  visitor  had  twenty  years 
before  pronounced  it  to  be,  "as  large  and  better  built  than 


xx  INTRODUCTION. 

Bristol,  or  any  other  city  in  England  except  London."  The 
only  land  communication  between  Boston  and  the  surround- 
ing towns  at  that  period,  was  by  way  of  the  narrow  neck 
at  its  southern  extremity.  Her  inhabitants  were  industrious, 
frugal  and  enterprising,  and  were  equally  distinguished  for 
their  pertinacity  and  independence.  They  were  nearly  all 
of  the  same  church,  and  were  strict  in  the  observance  of 
Sunday.  Though  many  had  acquired  a  competence,  few 
were  very  rich  or  very  poor,  and  their  style  of  living  had 
little  diversity.  In  her  free  schools  all  were  taught  to  read 
and  write.  A  score  of  enterprising  booksellers,  among  them 
Henry  Knox,  imported  into  the  colony  all  the  standard  books 
on  law,  politics,  history  and  theology,  while  a  free  press  and 
town  meetings  instructed  her  citizens  in  political  affairs. 
Her  mechanics,  many  of  whom  were  ship-builders,  were  ac- 
tive in  all  town  meetings.  Ever  jealous  of  her  rights,  she 
had  grown  up  in  their  habitual  exercise,  and  was  early  and 
strenuous  in  her  opposition  to  the  claims  of  parliamentary 
supremacy.  Even  her  divines,  many  of  whom  were  distin- 
guished by  their  learning  and  eloquence,  gave  the  sanction 
of  religion  to  the  cause  of  freedom.  For  these  reasons 
Boston  was  the  fittest  theatre  for  the  decisive  settlement 
of  the  grave  question  at  issue. 

Two  men  of  very  different  metal  were  especially  promi- 
nent in  Boston  at  this  time,  —  Thomas  Hutchinson,  the 
royal  governor,  and  Samuel  Adams,  the  man  of  the  people. 
Both  were  natives  of  the  town,  and  graduates  of  Harvard 
College.  Hutchinson,  during  a  public  life  of  over  thirty 
years,  had  held  the  offices  of  representative,  councillor,  chief 
justice  and  lieutenant-governor.  No  man  was  so  experi- 
enced in  the  affairs  of  the  colony,  no  one  so  familiar  with  its 


INTRODUCTION.  xxi 

history,  usages  and  laws.  As  a  legislator  and  as  a  judge 
he  had  manifested  ability  and  impartiality. 

Unfortunately  for  his  peace  of  mind,  and  for  his  reputa- 
tion, he  set  himself  squarely  against  the  popular  movement. 
He  advised  altering  the  charters  of  the  New  England  pro- 
vinces; the  dismemberment  of  Massachusetts;  the  establish- 
ment of  a  citadel  in  Boston;  the  stationing  of  a  fleet  in  its 
harbor;  the  experiment  of  martial  law;  the  transportation  of 
"  incendiaries"  to  England,  and  the  prohibition  of  the  New 
England  fisheries,  at  the  same  time  entreating  of  his  corres- 
pondents in  England  to  keep  his  opinions  secret. 

For  these  errors  of  judgment  he  paid  dearly  in  the  oblo- 
quy heaped  upon  him  by  his  countrymen,  and  his  exile  from 
his  native  land,  in  which  he  earnestly  desired  that  his  bones 
might  be  laid.  The  recent  publication  of  his  diary  and 
letters  shows  that  he  not  only  acted  honestly  and  conscien- 
tiously in  opposing  the  popular  current,  but  that  he,  at  the 
same  time,  used  his  influence  to  mitigate  the  severe  measures 
of  government.  He  counselled  them  against  the  stamp  act ; 
against  closing  the  port  of  Boston,  and  against  some  features 
of  the  regulating  act,  as  too  harsh  and  impolitic.  It  was 
his  sincere  wish  that  his  countrymen  would  admit  the  suprem- 
acy of  parliament,  and  he  believed  that  such  a  result  could 
be  attained  without  bloodshed.  He  was  courteously  received 
in  England, — where  his  course  was  very  generally  approved, — 
and  offered  a  baronetcy,  which,  however,  he  declined  on  the 
score  of  the  insufficiency  of  his  estate.  His  judgment  in 
American  affairs,  though  often  sought  by  the  ministry,  seems 
to  have  been  seldom  followed.  Candor  requires  that  in  the 
light  of  his  letters  and  diary,  in  which  his  real  sentiments 


xxn  INTRODUCTION. 

appear,  the  harsh  judgment  usually  passed  upon  Hutchinson, 
should  be  materially  modified. 

His  opponent,  Samuel  Adams,  the  great  agitator,  possessed 
precisely  those  qualities  that  the  times  required.  His  polit- 
ical creed  was,  that  the  colonies  and  England  had  a  com- 
mon king,  but  separate  and  independent  legislatures,  and  as 
early  as  the  year  1769,  he  had  been  a  zealous  advocate  of 
independence.  He  was  the  organizer  of  the  Revolution, 
through  the  committees  of  correspondence,  which  he  initiated, 
and  was  one  of  those  who  matured  the  plan  of  a  general 
congress.  A  genuine  lover  of  liberty,  he  believed  in  the 
capacity  of  the  Americans  for  self-government.  It  was 
Samuel  Adams  who,  the  day  after  the  "massacre"  of  March 
5,  1770,  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  committee,  to  demand 
of  the  governor  the  immediate  removal  of  the  troops  from 
the  town  of  Boston.  The  stern  and  inflexible  patriot  clearly 
exposed  the  fallacy  of  Hutchinson's  reply  to  the  demand, 
and  compelled  the  governor  to  yield.  No  flattery  could  lull 
his  vigilance,  no  sophistry  deceive  his  penetration.  Difficul- 
ties did  not  discourage,  nor  danger  appall  him.  Though 
poor,  he  possessed  a  lofty  and  incorruptible  spirit,  and 
though  grave  and  austere  in  manner,  was  warm  in  his  feel- 
ings. His  affable  and  persuasive  address,  reconciled  con- 
flicting interests,  and  promoted  harmonious  action.  As  a 
speaker  he  was  pure,  concise,  logical  and  impressive,  and 
the  energy  of  his  diction  was  not  inferior  to  the  depth  of 
his  mind.  As  a  political  writer  he  was  clear  and  convincing, 
and  was  the  author  of  able  state  papers.  No  man  had  equal 
influence  over  the  popular  mind  with  Samuel  Adams,  v»rho 
has  been  aptly  styled,  "the  last  of  the  Puritans." 

At    Boston,  where    the    feeling    against    receiving    the    tea 


INTRODUCTION.  xxm 

was  strongest,  the  consignees  were,  "  by  a  singular  infelicity," 
either  relatives  of  the  hated  governor,  or  in  sympathy  with 
the  odious  administration.  Two  of  them  were  his  sons. 
Richard  Clarke  was  his  nephew.  One  of  Clarke's  daugh- 
ters married  Copley,  the  painter,  and  became  the  mother  of 
Lord  Lyndhurst,  the  future  lord-chancellor  of  England. 
Benjamin  Faneuil  and  Joshua  Winslow  were  respectable 
merchants.  All  but  Faneuil  were  connected  by  marriage. 
They  were  well  aware  of  the  temper  of  the  people,  and  of 
the  proceedings  in  Philadelphia  and  New  York ;  and  would 
doubtless  have  yielded  to  the  popular  demands,  but  for 
Hutchinson.  Public  sentiment  was  stimulated  against  them 
by  representing  them  as  crown  officers,  whereas  they  were 
only  factors.  They  were  thus  put  upon  the  footing  of  the 
obnoxious  stamp  officers. 

The  North  End  Caucus,1  composed  mostly  of  mechanics, 
met  frequently  to  consider  what  should  be  done,  and  voted 
(October  23d,)  that  they  would  oppose  with  their  lives  and 
fortunes,  the  vending  of  any  tea  that  might  be  sent  to  the 
town  for  sale  by  the  East  India  Company.  "  We  were  so 
careful,"  says  Paul  Revere,  "  that  our  meetings  should  be 
kept  secret,  that  every  time  we  met,  every  person  swore 
upon  the  Bible  not  to  discover  any  of  our  transactions,  but 

1  This  body,  which  originally  consisted  the   committees   of  public   service  were 

of  sixty-one  members,  with  Dr.  Thomas  formed,   and  measures   of  defence,  and 

Young  for  its  president,  was  organized  by  resolves  for  the   destruction  of  the  tea, 

Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  who,  with  one  other  discussed.     It  was  here,  when  the  best 

person,   drew   up    its    regulations.       Its  mode    of    expelling    the    regulars    from 

usual  place  of  meeting  was   at  William  Boston    was   under    consideration,    that 

Campbell's  house,  near  the   North  Bat-  John  Hancock  exclaimed,  "  Burn  Boston, 

tery,  though  its  sessions  were  sometimes  and  make  John  Hancock  a  beggar,  if  the 

held  at  the  Green  Dragon  tavern.     Here  public  good  requires  it." 


xxiv  INTRODUCTION. 

to  Hancock,  Warren  or  Church,  and  one  or  two  more 
leaders." 

The  Caucus  and  the  Long-Room  Club  were  local  organi- 
zations, and  were  all  included  in  the  larger  and  more  im- 
portant one,  known  as  "  The  Sons  of  Liberty."  This 
association  pervaded  nearly  all  the  colonies.  It  was  first 
known  in  Boston  as  the  "  Union  Club,"  and  gained  its  later 
name  from  the  phrase  employed  in  the  British  parliament 
by  Col.  Barre,  in  his  famous  speech.  It  was  formed  in 
1765,  soon  after  the  passage  of  the  stamp  act,  and  had 
among  its  members  most  of  the  leading  patriots  of  the  day. 
Their  organization  was  secret,  with  private  pass-words,  to 
protect  them  from  Tory  spies.  On  public  occasions,  each 
member  wore,  suspended  from  his  neck,  a  medal,  on  one 
side  of  which  was  the  figure  of  a  stalwart  arm,  grasping  in 
its  hand  a  pole,  surmounted  with  a  cap  of  liberty,  and  sur- 
rounded by  the  words,  "  Sons  of  Liberty."  On  the  reverse 
was  a  representation  of  Liberty  Tree.  It  was  under  this  tree, 
in  the  open  space  known  as  "  Liberty  Hall," — at  the  junction 
of  Newbury,  Orange  and  Essex  Streets,  —  that  their  public 
meetings  in  Boston  were  held. 

The  Sons  of  Liberty  issued  warrants  for  the  arrest  of 
suspected  persons ;  arranged  in  secret  caucus  the  prelimin- 
aries of  elections,  and  the  programme  for  public  celebrations ; 
and  in  fact  were  the  mainspring,  under  the  guidance  of  the 
popular  leaders,  of  every  public  demonstration  against  the 
government.  In  Boston  they  probably  numbered  about  three 
hundred.  The  i4th  of  August,  —  the  anniversary  of  the 
repeal  of  the  stamp  act,  —  was  celebrated  by  them  for  several 
years,  with  grand  display  and  festivity. 

Under  date  of  January  15,   1766,  John  Adams  says,  in  his 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXV 


diary :  "  I  spent  the  evening  with  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  at 
their  own  apartment,  in  Hanover  Square,  near  the  Tree  of 
Liberty.  It  is  a  counting-room,  in  Chase  &  Speakman's  dis- 
tillery; a  very  small  room  it  is.  There  were  present,  John 
Avery,  a  distiller,  of  liberal  education ;  John  Smith,  the 
brazier;  Thomas  Crafts,1  the  painter;  Benjamin  Edes,2  the 
printer  ;  Stephen  Cleverly,  brazier  ;  Thomas  Chase,  distiller ; 
Joseph  Fields,  master  of  a  vessel ;  Henry  Bass ;  George 
Trott,  jeweller ;  and  Henry  Welles.  I  was  very  cordially 
and  respectfully  treated  by  all  present.  We  had  punch, 
wine,  pipes  and  tobacco,  biscuit  and  cheese,  etc.  They  chose 
a  committee  to  make  preparations  for  grand  rejoicings  upon 
the  arrival  of  the  news  of  a  repeal  of  the  stamp  act."  The 
counting-room  of  which  Adams  speaks,  could,  from  its  small 
size,  have  been  the  committee-room  of  the  body  only. 

Governor  Bernard  wished  to  send  some  of  the  leading 
Sons  of  Liberty  to  England,  for  trial,  but  did  not  dare  do  so. 
New  York  was  the  centre  of  the  organization,  to  which  all 


1  Thomas    Crafts    was,    in     1789,    a 
painter  and  japanner.  opposite  the  site 
of   the  great  tree  (corner   of    Boylston 
and  Washington  Streets).      He  became 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St. 
Andrew  in  1762. 

2  Benjamin    Edes,  journalist,  born  in 
Charlestown,  Mass.,  Oct.  14,  1732;   died 
in  Boston,  December  11,  1803.     In  1755, 
he   began,  with   John   Gill,  the  publica- 
tion of  the  "  Boston  Gazette  and  Coun- 
try  Journal,"  a  newspaper   of  deserved 
popularity,  unsurpassed   in   its    patriotic 
zeal  for  liberty,  — the  chosen  mouth-piece 
of   the    Whigs.      To   its  columns,   Otis, 
the  Adamses,  Quincy  and  Warren,  were 

4 


constant  contributors.  Their  printing- 
office,  on  the  corner  of  Queen  (now  Court) 
Street  and  Dassett's  Alley  (now  Franklin 
Avenue),  was  the  place  of  meeting  of 
a  party  of  the  "  Mohawks,"  on  the  after- 
noon of  December  16,  1773.  During  the 
siege  of  Boston,  the  "  Gazette "  was  is- 
sued at  Watertown.  It  was  discontinued 
September  17,  1798.  At  the  opening  of 
the  war,  Mr.  Edes  possessed  a  handsome 
property,  which  was  wholly  lost  by  the 
depreciation  of  the  currency.  Edes  was 
a  member  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company  in  1760,  and  a  promi- 
nent "  Son  of  Liberty." 


XXVI 


INTRODUCTION. 


communications  from  the.  other  colonies  were  sent.  A  cor- 
respondent in  London  kept  them  informed  of  the  proceed- 
ings and  designs  of  the  British  ministry. 

At  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the  2d  of  November, 
1773,  the  consignees  were  aroused  from  their  slumbers  by  a 
violent  knocking  at  their  doors,  and  a  summons  was  left  for 
them  to  appear  at  Liberty  Tree  on  the  following  Wednesday, 
to  resign  their  commissions ;  and  not  to  fail  at  their  peril. 
A  handbill  was,  at  the  same  time,  posted  about  the  town, 
notifying  the  people  of  Boston  and  the  vicinity  to  be  present 
at  the  same  time  and  place,  to  witness  their  resignation. 

On  the  appointed  day,  a  large  flag  was  hung  out  at  Liberty 
Tree.  The  public  crier  announced  the  meeting,  at  the  top 
of  his  voice,  and  the  church  bells,  were  rung  for  an  hour. 
At  noon,  five  hundred  persons  assembled.  Samuel  Adams, 
John  Hancock  and  William  Phillips,  representatives  of 
Boston,  were  present,  with  William  Cooper, —  the  patriotic 
town  clerk,  —  and  the  board  of  selectmen.  The  consignees 
failing  to  appear,  a  committee,  consisting  of  William 
Molineux,  William  Dennie,  Dr.  Joseph  Warren,  Dr.  Benjamin 
Church, 1  Henderson  Inches,  Edward  Proctor,  Nathaniel 


1  Dr.  Benjamin  Church,  physician, 
orator  and  poet,  grandson  of  the  famous 
Indian  fighter  of  the  name  ;  born  in  New- 
port, R.  I.,  August  24,  1734;  was  lost  at 
sea  in  May,  1776.  He  graduated  at  Har- 
vard College  in  1754;  studied  medicine 
in  London,  and  after  his  return  to  Bos- 


ton, became  eminent  as  a  surgeon.  For 
several  years  previous  to  the  Revolution, 
he  was  a  conspicuous  and  leading  Whig. 
He  was  a  representative,  a  member  of 
the  Provincial  Congress  of  1774,  and 
physician-general  to  the  patriot  army. 
Pecuniary  embarrassment  is  supposed  to 


INTRODUCTION. 


XXVII 


Barber,  Gabriel  Johonnot,1  and  Ezekiel  Cheever,  waited  on 
them  at  Clarke's  warehouse,  at  the  foot  of  King  (now  State) 
Street,  where  they,  together  with  a  number  of  their  friends, 
had  assembled.  As  they  passed  the  town  house,  still  stand- 
ing at  the  head  of  this  street,  Hutchinson,  who  saw  the 
procession,  says  that  "  the  committee  were  attended  by  a 
large  body  of  the  people,  many  of  them  not  of  the  lowest 
rank." 

Molineux  was  the  spokesman.  "  From  whom  are  you  a 
committee  ? "  asked  Clarke.  "  From  the  whole  people,"  was 
the  reply.  "  Who  are  the  committee  ?  "  "I  am  one,"  said 
Molineux,  and  he  named  the  rest.  "  What  is  your  request  ?  " 
"  That  you  give  us  your  word  to  sell  none  of  the  teas  in 


have  led  to  his  defection  from  the  cause 
of  his  country.  In  September,  1775,  an 
intercepted  letter  of  his,  in  characters,  to 
Major  Cain,  in  Boston,  was  deciphered ; 
and  October  3,  1775,  he  was  convicted 
by  a  court  martial,  of  which  Washington 
was  president,  of  "holding  a  criminal 
correspondence  with  the  enemy."  Con- 
fined in  jail  at  Norwich,  Conn.,  he  was 
released  in  May,  1776,  on  account  of 
failing  health  ;  sailed  for  the  West 
Indies,  and  was  never  afterwards  heard 
from. 

1  Gabriel  Johonnot,  born  in  Boston, 
1748;  died  in  Hamden,  Me.,  October  9, 
1820.  Zacharie,  his  father,  a  Huguenot, 
was  a  distiller  and  merchant.  His  dwell- 
ing-house and  store  was  on  Orange  Street, 
and  his  distillery  on  Harvard  Street, 
directly  opposite.  At  the  bottom  of  the 


street  was  his  wharf,  wooden  distillery, 
storehouses,  etc.  The  mansion  house 
and  store  were  burned  in  the  great  fire, 
2oth  April,  1 787.  Gabriel  was  a  member 
of  St.  John's  Lodge,  Boston,  1780,  and 
a  charter  member  of  Hancock  Lodge, 
Castine,  Me.,  1794.  He  was  chairman  of 
a  committee  appointed  by  the  company 
of  Cadets,  of  Boston,  August  15,  1774,  to 
proceed  to  Salem,  and  return  to  Governor 
Gage,  the  standard  presented  to  them; 
and  was  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  I4th 
Regiment  of  the  Massachusetts  line, 
known  as  the  Marblehead  regiment,  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Glover.  He  removed 
to  Castine,  Me.,  soon  after  the  Revolu- 
tionary war ;  took  a  prominent  part  in 
town  affairs,  and  at  one  time  represented 
the  town  of  Penobscot  in  the  Massachu- 
setts Legislature. 


xxvin  INTRODUCTION. 

your  charge,  but  return  them  to  London  in  the  same 
bottoms  in  which  they  were  shipped.  Will  you  comply  ? " 
"  I  shall  have  nothing  to  do  with  you,"  was  the  rough  and 
peremptory  reply,  in  which  the  other  consignees,  who  were 
present,  concurred.  Molineux  then  read  the  resolve,  passed 
at  Liberty  Tree,  declaring  that  those  who  should  refuse  to 
comply  with  the  request  of  the  people,  were  "  enemies  to 
their  country,"  and  should  be  dealt  with  accordingly. 

When  the  committee  reported  the  result  to  the  crowd 
outside,  the  cry  was  raised,  "  Out  with  them !  out  with 
them ! "  Those  within  attempted  to  close  the  doors ;  but 
the  people  unhinged  them,  and  carried  them  off.  Justice 
Nathaniel  Hatch,  who,  in  the  king's  name,  now  commanded 
the  peace,  was  hooted  at  and  struck,  when  the  people  were 
persuaded  to  desist.  The  committee  returned  to  Liberty  Tree,- 
where  they  reported  to  the  meeting,  which  quietly  dispersed. 
Of  those  composing  this  gathering,  the  consignees  wrote  to 
the  East  India  Company,  as  follows :  "  They  consisted  chiefly 
of  people  of  the  lowest  rank ;  very  few  respectable  trades, 
men,  as  we  are  informed,  appeared  amongst  them.  The 
selectmen  say  they  were  present  to  prevent  disorder."  There 
can  be  little  doubt  that  the  political  assemblies  of  that  day, 
as  do  those  at  the  present  time,  fairly  represented  the  body 
of  the  people.  The  mechanics  of  Boston,  whatever  their 
rank  in  the  social  scale,  were  the  active  patriots  of  the 
revolutionary  period. 

The  Sons  of  Liberty  having  failed,  and  the  Tories  asserting 
that  the  meeting  at  Liberty  Tree  was  irregular,  petitioners  for 
a  town  meeting  declared  that  the  people  were  alarmed  at  a 
report  that  the  tea  had  been  shipped  to  America,  and  feared 
that  the  tribute  would  be  exacted,  and  that  the  liberties,  for 


INTRODUCTION.  xxix 

which  they  had  so  long  contended,  would  be  lost  to  them 
and  their  posterity.  A  meeting  was  therefore  called  by  the 
selectmen  for  the  next  day,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon. 

That  night  a  threatening  letter  was  placed  under  the  door 
of  Mr.  Faneuil,  one  of  the  consignees,  warning  them  that  a 
much  longer  delay  in  complying,  would  not  fail  to  bring 
upon  them  "  the  just  reward  of  their  avarice  and  insolence." 

The  town  meeting,  held  on  the  5th  of  November,  was 
fully  attended,  and  was  presided  over  by  John  Hancock. 
After  due  consideration,  it  adopted  the  resolves  of  the  Phila- 
delphians  of  October  18,  declaring  that  freemen  have  an 
inherent  right  to  dispose  of  their  property ;  that  the  tea  tax 
was  a  mode  of  levying  contributions  on  them  without  their 
consent ;  that  its  purpose  tended  to  render  assemblies  use- 
less, and  to  introduce  arbitrary  government ;  that  a  steady 
opposition  to  this  ministerial  plan  was  a  duty  which  every 
freeman  owed  to  his  country,  to  himself,  and  to  his  posterity ; 
that  the  East  India  Company's  importation  was  an  open 
attempt  to  enforce  this  plan ;  and  that  whoever  countenanced 
the  unloading,  vending  or  receiving  the  tea,  was  an  enemy 
to  his  country.  A  committee,  consisting  of  the  moderator, 
Henderson  Inches,  Benjamin  Austin,  and  the  selectmen  of 
the  town,  were  chosen  to  wait  on  the  consignees  and  request 
them,  from  a  regard  to  their  own  characters,  and  the  peace 
and  good  of  the  town  and  province,  immediately  to  resign 
their  appointment. 

At  this  meeting,  a  Tory  handbill,  called  the  "  Tradesmen's 
Protest,"  against  the  proceedings  of  the  merchants  on  the 
subject  of  tea  importation,  was  introduced.  After  the  read- 
ing, without  comment,  the  tradesmen  present  were  desired 
to  collect  themselves  at  the  south  side  of  the  hall,  where 


xxx  INTRODUCTION. 

the  question  was  put  whether  they  acknowledged  the  "  Trades- 
men's Protest,"  and  the  whole,  amounting  to  at  least  four 
hundred,  voted  in  the  negative.  The  paper,  its  printer,  and 
those  who  circulated  it,  were  denounced  as  base,  false  and 
scandalous.  This  gave  a  finishing  blow  to  the  "  Protest,"  of 
which  nothing  more  was  heard.  . 

After  voting  that  it  was  the  just  expectation  of  the  town 
that  no  one  of  its  merchants  should,  under  any  pretext 
whatever,  import  any  tea  liable  to  duty,  the  meeting  adjourned 
until  three  o'clock. 

At  that  hour  there  was  again  a  full  assembly.  The  com- 
mittee reported  that  they  had  communicated  the  resolves  of 
the  town  to  the  Messrs.  Clarke  and  Mr.  Faneuil,  who  in- 
formed them  that  they  must  consult  Thomas  and  Elisha 
Hutchinson,  the  other  consignees,  who  were  at  Milton,  and 
could  not  give  an  answer  until  the  following  Monday. 
Samuel  Adams,  Joseph  Warren,  and  Molineux  were  then 
desired  to  acquaint  Messrs.  Clarke  and  Faneuil,  that  the 
town  expected  an  immediate  answer  from  them.  This  was 
very  soon  received,  and  pronounced  unsatisfactory,  by  a 
unanimous  vote.  John  Hancock,  John  Pitts,  Samuel  Adams, 
Samuel  Abbott,  Joseph  Warren,  William  Powell,  and  Na- 
thaniel Appleton,1  were  chosen  a  committee  to  wait  on  the 


1  Nathaniel  Appleton,  Commissioner  Street,  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Nathaniel  Apple- 
of  Loans  for  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  ton,  of  Cambridge;  died  in  June,  1789, 
a  resident  of  Atkinson  (now  Congress)  aged  66. 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxi 

Hutchinsons,  and  request  an  immediate  resignation,  and  the 
meeting  adjourned  until  the  next  day. 

On  Saturday,  Faneuil  Hall  was  again  crowded.  The 
committee  reported  that  it  could  not  find  Elisha  Hutchin- 
son,  either  at  Milton  or  Boston.  Thomas  Hutchinson,  Jr., 
informed  them,  in  a  letter,  that  when  he  and  his  brother 
were  appointed  factors,  and  the  tea  arrived,  they  would  be 
sufficiently  informed  to  answer  the  request  of  the  inhabitants. 

This  reply  stirred  up  some  of  the  hot  blood  in  the  assem- 
bly, and  a  cry  of  "  to  arms  !  to  arms  !  "  was  received  with 
applause  and  clapping  of  hands.  Discretion,  as  usual, 
prevailed,  and  the  meeting  voted  that  the  replies  were 
"  daringly  affrontive "  to  the  town,  and  then  dissolved.  The 
governor  tried  to  collect  evidence  of  the  inflammatory 
speeches  that  had  been  made,  but  could  find  no  person 
willing  to  give  it. 

A  quiet  week  followed.  The  tea-ships  were  nearing  the 
harbor,  and  the  journals  were  filled  with  political  essays 
generally,  strong,  well  put,  and  elevating  in  tone.  Locke, 
in  the  "  Boston  Gazette,"  said :  "  It  will  be  considered  by 
Americans  whether  the  dernier  ressort,  and  only  asylum  for 
their  liberties,  is  not  an  American  Commonwealth."  It  was 
evident  to  the  leaders  on  both  sides,  that  a  crisis  was  at 
hand.  Hutchinson  foresaw  that  this  "  would  prove  a  more 
difficult  affair  than  any  which  had  preceded  it ;  "  and  in  his 
letters  admits  that  the  mass  of  the  people  acted  in  the 
conviction  that  their  rights  were  invaded.  Believing  the 
supremacy  of  parliament  was  in  issue,  he  determined,  though 
standing  almost  alone,  and  in  opposition  to  the  advice  of 
his  political  friends,  to  make  no  concession.  In  a  letter 
written  at  this  period,  to  Lord  Dartmouth,  Secretary  for  the 


xxxii  INTRODUCTION. 

Colonies,  he  describes,  with  minuteness,  the  state  of  political 
affairs.       He  says : 

.  .  .  "At  present,  the  spirits  of  the  people  in  the  town  of  Boston  are  in  a 
great  ferment.  Everything  that  has  been  in  my  power,  without  the  Council,  I 
have  done,  and  continue  to  do,  for  the  preservation  of  the  peace  arid  good  order 
of  the  town.  If  I  had  the  aid,  which  I  think  the  Council  might  give,  my  endeav- 
ors would  be  more  effective.  They  profess  to  disapprove  of  the  tumultuous, 
violent  proceedings  of  the  people,  but  they  wish  to  see  the  professed  end  of  the 
people  in  such  proceedings  attained  in  the  regular  way ;  and,  instead  of  joining 
with  me  in  proper  measures  to  discourage  an  opposition  to  the  landing  of  the 
teas  expected,  one  and  another  of  the  gentlemen,  of  the  greatest  influence,  inti- 
mate that  the  best  thing  that  can  be  done  to  quiet  the  people,  would  be  the  refusal 
of  the  gentlemen  to  whom  the  teas  are  consigned,  to  execute  the  trust ;  and  they 
declare  they  would  do  it  if  it  was  their  case,  and  would  advise  all  their  connex- 
ions to  do  it.  Nor  will  they  ever  countenance  a  measure  which  shall  tend  to 
carry  into  execution  an  act  of  parliament  which  lays  taxes  upon  the  colonies,  for 
the  purpose  of  a  revenue.  The  same  principle  prevails  with  by  far  the  greater 
part  of  the  merchants  who,  though  in  general  they  declare  against  mobs  and 
violence,  yet  they  as  generally  wish  the  tea  may  not  be  imported.  The  persons 
to  whom  the  teas  are  consigned,  declare  that  whilst  they  can  be  protected  from 
violence  to  their  persons,  they  will  not  give  way  to  the  unreasonable  demands 
which  have  been  made  of  them.  I  wish  the  vessels  bound  to  New  York  may 
arrive  before  those  designed  to  this  Province.  Governor  Tryon  I  know  to  be 
well  disposed  to  do  his  duty,  and  the  people  there  are  less  disposed  to  any  vio- 
lent proceedings,  as  I  have  reason  to  think,  than  they  are  here,  and  an  example 
of  peace  and  good  order  there  may  have  its  influence  here." 

Samuel  Adams,  Hancock,  Warren,  Molineux  and  Young, 
the  most  prominent  of  the  popular  leaders,  apprehended 
fully  the  responsibilities  of  the  hour.  They  had  a  great 
principle  to  maintain,  and  the  courage  to  uphold  it.  They 
knew  that,  though  the  people  were  with  them,  the  failure  to 
obtain  the  resignation  of  the  consignees  had  inspired  doubt 
in  other  quarters,  as  to  whether  Boston  would  meet  the 
expectations  of  the  patriots  of  other  colonies.  To  such  as 
questioned  whether  it  was  not  premature  to  push  matters  to 
extremities,  they  replied,  that  if  fidelity  to  the  common 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxm 

cause  was  likely  to  bring  on  a  quarrel  with  Great  Britain, 
this  was  the  best  time  for  it  to  come.  "  Our  credit,"  they 
said,  "  is  at  stake ;  we  must  venture,  and  unless  we  do,  we 
shall  be  discarded  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty  in  the  other 
colonies,  whose  assistance  we  may  expect,  upon  emergencies, 
in  case  they  find  us  steady,  resolute  and  faithful."  With 
men  like  these  "  to  the  fore,"  though  independence  was 
scarcely  dreamed  of,  revolution  was  a  foregone  conclusion. 

Thomas  Mifflin,  an  active  patriot  of  Philadelphia,  sub- 
sequently a  general,  and  governor  of  Pennsylvania,  when  in 
Boston,  said  to  some  of  these  men,  "will  you  engage  that 
the  tea  shall  not  be  landed  ?  if  so,  I  will  answer  for  Phila- 
delphia." And  they  pledged  their  honor  that  its  landing 
should  be  prevented. 

On  November  n,  Hutchinson  issued  the  following  order: 

"  Massachusetts  Bay.       By  the  Governor. 

To  Colonel  John  Hancock,  Captain  of  the  Governor's  Company  of  Cadets,  &c. 

The  Cadet  company,  under  your  command,  having  signalized  itself  heretofore 
upon  a  very  necessary  occasion,  and  the  late  tumultuous  proceedings  in  the  town 
of  Boston  requiring  that  more  than  usual  caution  should  be  taken  at  this  time 
for  the  preservation  of  the  peace,  I  think  it  proper  that  you  should  forthwith 
summon  each  person  belonging  to  the  company  to  be  ready,  and  to  appear  in 
arms  at  such  place  of  parade  as  you  think  fit,  whensoever  there  may  be  a  tumult- 
uous assembly  of  the  people,  in  violation  of  the  laws,  in  order  to  their  being 
aiding  and  assisting  to  the  civil  magistrate  as  occasion  may  require." 

This  company,  which  was  immediately  under  the  govern- 
or's orders,  had  been  of  service  during  the  stamp  act  riots, 
and  had  often  been  complimented  for  its  discipline.  The 
evident  intent  of  this  order,  to  use  military  force  to  suppress 
public  assemblages,  and  the  stationing  of  companies  of  Brit- 
ish troops  in  the  neighboring  towns,  augmented  the  uneasi- 
ness already  felt.  There  was  now,  besides  the  soldiers  at 


xxxiv  INTRODUCTION. 

the  castle,  a   considerable    naval    force    in    the    harbor,  under 
Admiral  John  Montagu. 

On  the  morning  of  November  17,  a  little  party  of  family 
friends  had  assembled  at  the  house  of  Richard  Clarke,  Esq., 
known  as  the  "  Cooke  House,"  near  the  King's  Chapel, 
on  School  Street,  to  welcome  young  Jonathan  Clarke,  who 
had  just  arrived  from  London.  All  at  once  the  inmates  of 
the  dwelling  were  startled  by  a  violent  beating  at  the  door, 
accompanied  with  shouts  and  the  blowing  of  horns,  creating 
considerable  alarm.  The  ladies  were  hastily  bestowed  in 
places  of  safety,  while  the  gentlemen  secured  the  avenues 
of  the  lower  story,  as  well  as  they  were  able.  The  yard 
and  vicinity  were  soon  filled  with  people.  One  of  the 
inmates  warned  them,  from  an  upper  window,  to  disperse, 
but  getting  no  other  reply  than  a  shower  of  stones,  he  dis- 
charged a  pistol.  Then  came  a  shower  of  missiles,  which 
broke  in  the  lower  windows,  and  damaged  some  of  the 
furniture.  Influential  patriots  had  by  this  time  arrived,  and 
put  a  stop  to  the  proceedings,  and  the  mob  quietly  dispersed. 
The  consignees  now  called  on  the  governor  and  council 
for  protection. 

During  the  day,  an  arrival  from  London  brought  the 
news  that  three  ships,  having  the  East  India  Company's  tea 
on  board,  had  sailed  for  Boston,  and  that  others  had  cleared 
for  Philadelphia. 

A  petition  for  a  town  meeting  was  at  once  presented  to 
the  selectmen,  representing  that  the  teas  were  shortly  ex- 
pected, and  that  it  was  apprehended  that  the  consignees  might 
now  be  sufficiently  informed  on  the  terms  of  its  consignment, 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxv 

to  be  able  to  give  their  promised  answer  to  the  town.  A 
meeting  was  therefore  appointed  for  the  next  day. 

John  Hancock  was  the  moderator  of  the  last  town  meeting, 
in  which  public  sentiment  was  legally  brought  to  bear  upon 
the  consignees.  It  was  held  on  the  i8th.  The  meeting  was 
quiet  and  orderly,  and  its  business  was  speedily  transacted. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the  consignees 
for  a  final  answer  to  the  request  of  the  town,  that  they 
resign  their  appointment.  This  was  their  reply : 

"BOSTON,  November  18,  1773. 

Sir, —  In  answer  to  the  message  we  have  this  day  received  from  the  town,  we 
beg  leave  to  say  that  we  have  not  yet  received  any  order  from  the  East  India 
Company  respecting  the  expected  teas,  but  we  are  now  further  acquainted  that 
our  friends  in  England  have  entered  into  general  engagements  in  our  behalf, 
merely  of  a  commercial  nature,  which  puts  it  out  of  our  power  to  comply  with 
the  request  of  the  town. 

We  are,  sir,  your  most  humble  servants, 

RICHARD  CLARKE  &  SONS, 
BENJ.  FANEUIL,  JR.,  for  self  and 

JOSHUA  WINSLOW,  Esq., 
ELISHA  HUTCHINSON,  for  my 
Brother  and  self." 

Immediately  on  receiving  this  answer,  the  meeting,  without 
vote  or  comment,  dissolved.  "  This  sudden  dissolution 
struck  more  terror  into  the  consignees,"  says  Hutchinson, 
"  than  the  most  minatory  resolves ; "  and  but  for  his  efforts, 
they  would  have  followed  the  example  of  those  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  had  resigned  six  weeks  before. 

Next  day  (November  19),  the  consignees,  in  a  petition  to 
the  governor  and  council,  asked  leave  to  resign  themselves, 
and  the  property  committed  to  their  care,  to  his  Excellency 
and  their  Honors,  as  guardians  and  protectors  of  the  people, 
and  that  means  might  be  devised  for  the  landing  and  secur- 


xxxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

ing  the  teas,  until  the  petitioners  could  safely  dispose  of 
them,  or  could  receive  directions  from  their  constituents. 
Their  action  was  the  cause  of  much  comment  in  the  news- 
papers, and  debate  in  the  council.  It  was  urged  in  oppo- 
sition to  the  scheme,  that  it  was  no  part  of  the  legitimate 
functions  of  this  body  to  act  as  trustees  and  storekeepers 
for  certain  factors  of  the  East  India  Company. 

In  a  letter  to  a  friend,  dated  November  24,  Hutchinson 
thus  expresses  his  views  of  the  situation.  He  says : 

"  When  I  saw  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Boston,  assembled  under  color 
of  law,  and  heard  of  the  open  declaration  that  we  are  now  in  a  state  of  nature, 
and  that  we  have  a  right  to  take  up  arms ;  and  when  in  a  town  meeting,  as  I 
am  informed,  a  call  to  arms  was  received  with  clapping  and  general  applause ; 
when  a  tumultuous  assembly  of  people  can,  from  time  to  time,  attack  the  persons 
and  the  property  of  the  king's  subjects ;  and  when  assemblies  are  tolerated  from 
night  to  night,  in  the  public  town  hall ;  to  counsel  and  determine  upon  further 
unlawful  measures,  and  dark  proposals  and  resolutions  are  made  and  agreed  to 
there  ;  when  the  infection  is  industriously  spreading  and  the  neighboring  towns 
not  only  join  their  committees  with  the  committee  of  Boston,  but  are  assembled 
in  town  meetings  to  approve  of  the  doings  of  the  town  of  Boston  ;  and,  above 
all,  when  upon  repeated  summoning  of  the  Council,  they  put  off  any  advice  to 
me  from  time  to  time,  and  I  am  obliged  to  consent  to  it,  because  all  the  voices 
there,  as  far  as  they  declare  their  minds,  I  have  reason  to  fear,  would  rather 
confirm  than  discourage  the  people  in  their  irregular  proceedings,  —  under  all  these 
circumstances,  I  think  it  time  to  deliberate  whether  his  majesty's  service  does 
not  call  me  to  retire  to  the  castle,  where  I  may,  with  safety  to  my  person,  more 
freely  give  my  sense  of  the  criminality  of  these  proceedings  than  whilst  I  am  in 
the  hands  of  the  people,  some  of  whom,  and  those  most  active,  don't  scruple  to 
declare  their  designs  against  me." 

And  he  concludes  this  doleful  story  with  the  question, 
"  What  am  I  in  duty  bound  to  do  ? "  His  position  was  cer- 
tainly a  very  uncomfortable  one. 

Frequent  conferences  with  the  consignees  were  held  by 
the  selectmen  of  Boston.  "  Though  we  labored  night  and 
day  in  the  affair,  all  our  efforts  could  not  produce  an  agree- 


INTRODUCTION.  xxxvn 

ment  between  them  and  the  town."  So  wrote  John  Scollay,1 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen,  who  also  informs  us, 
in  a  letter  written  December  23,  that  there  was  a  way  by 
which  the  consignees  might  have  avoided  trouble.  "  Had 
they,"  writes  he,  "  on  the  terms  of  first  application  to  them, 
offered  to  have  stored  the  tea,  subject  to  the  inspection  of  a 
committee  of  gentlemen,  till  they  could  write  their  principals, 
and  until  that  time  (agreed  that)  no  duty  should  be  paid, — 
which  no  doubt  the  customs  officers  would  have  consented 
to,  —  I  am  persuaded  the  town  would  have  closed  with 
them." 

The  selectmen  told  the  consignees  plainly  that  nothing 
less  than  sending  the  tea  back  to  England  would  satisfy  the 
people.  Some  of  their  Tory  friends  also  urged  them  to 
arrange  matters  in  this  way,  but  they  would  only  agree 
(Nov.  27)  that  nothing  should  be  done  in  a  clandestine  way; 
that  the  vessels  should  come  up  to  the  wharves,  and  that 
when  they  received  the  orders  that  accompanied  the  teas, 
they  would  hand  in  proposals  to  the  selectmen,  to  be  laid 
before  the  town.  They  meant  only  to  gain  time.  They 
were  determined  to  make  the  issue  with  the  popular  leaders 

1The  Scollays  were  an  old  Scotch  one  of  Scollay's  daughters.  Col.  William 
family.  A  John  Scollay,  the  first  men-  Scollay,  apothecary  and  druggist,  son  of 
tion  of  whom  is  found  here,  in  1692  John,  resided  at  first  on  or  near  the 
leased  the  Winnisimmet  ferry  for  one  spot  where  the  Museum  stands,  and  his 
year.  John,  whose  name  is  conspicuous  garden  extended  back  to  Court  Square, 
in  the  early  Revolutionary  records  of  He  was  associated  with  Charles  Bulfinch 
Boston,  was  a  merchant,  and  was  chair-  and  others,  in  the  improvement  of  Frank- 
man  of  the  Board  of  Selectmen,  from  lin  Place,  now  Franklin  Street,  where 
1774  to  1790.  His  portrait,  by  Copley,  they  erected  the  first  block  of  buildings 
represents  a  portly,  florid  man,  with  a  in  Boston.  Col.  William  was  commander 
powdered  wig,  seated,  his  hand  resting  of  the  Independent  Company  of  Cadets, 
on  a  ledger.  Thomas  Melvill  married 


xxxvin  INTRODUCTION. 

on  this  question.  They  were  backed  by  the  governor  and 
the  influential  Tories,  and  no  doubt  believed  that  they  could 
carry  their  point. 

On  Monday,  the  22d,  the  committees  of  correspondence 
of  Dorchester,  Brookline,  Roxbury  and  Cambridge,  met  the 
Boston  committee  at  the  selectmen's  chamber,  Faneuil 
Hall. 

They  resolved  unanimously  to  use  their  joint  influence  to 
prevent  the  landing  and  sale  of  the  teas ;  prepared  a  letter 
to  be  sent  to  the  other  towns,  representing  that  they  were 
reduced  to  the  dilemma,  either  to  sit  down  in  quiet,  under 
this  and  every  burden  that  might  be  put  upon  them,  or  to 
rise  up  in  resistance,  as  became  freemen ;  to  impress  the 
absolute  necessity  of  making  immediate  and  effectual  oppo- 
sition to  the  detestable  measure,  and  soliciting  their  advice 
and  co-operation.  Charlestown  was  "  so  zealous  in  the 
cause,"  that  its  committee  was  added  to  the  others.  This 
body  continued  to  hold  daily  conferences,  "  like  a  little 
senate,"  says  Hutchinson. 

The  "Gazette"  of  November  22,  said:  "Americans!  defeat 
this  last  effort  of  a  most  pernicious,  expiring  faction,  and 
you  may  sit  under  your  own  vines  and  fig  trees,  and  none 
shall,  hereafter,  dare  to  make  you  afraid." 

On  the  26th,  the  men  of  Cambridge  assembled,  and  after 
adopting  the  Philadelphia  resolves,  "  very  unanimously"  voted, 
"  That  as  Boston  was  struggling  for  the  liberties  of  their 
country,  they  could  no  longer  stand  idle  spectators,  but  were 
ready,  on  the  shortest  notice,  to  join  with  it,  and  other 
towns,  in  any  measure  that  might  be  thought  proper,  to 
deliver  themselves  and  posterity  from  slavery." 

On  Sunday,  the  28th,  the  ship  "  Dartmouth,"  Captain  Hall, 


(From  f/tt-  original,  in  fhe  possession  of  GEORGE  H.   ALLAN,  Boston.) 


/7  JTQ   - 


£/000, 


INTRODUCTION. 


XLI 


owned  by  the  Quaker,  Francis  Rotch, l  arrived  in  Boston 
harbor,  with  one  hundred  and  fourteen  chests  of  tea,  and 
anchored  below  the  castle.  As  the  news  spread,  there  was 
great  excitement.  Despite  the  rigid  New  England  ob- 
servance of  the  Sabbath,  the  selectmen  immediately  met, 


1  Francis  Rotch,  a  Quaker  merchant, 
part  owner  of  the  "  Dartmouth "  and 
the  "  Beaver,"  was  born  in  Nantucket, 
Mass.,  30th  September,  1750,  and  died 
in  New  Bedford,  in  May,  1822.  Joseph, 
his  father,  the  founder  of  a  family  of 
eminent  merchants,  was  born  in  Salis- 
bury, England,  in  1704,  and  died  in  New 
Bedford,  24th  November,  1784.  In  early 
life  he  settled  in  Nantucket,  and  rose 
from  poverty  to  affluence  by  his  indus- 
try, energy  and  enterprise,  gaining,  at 
the  same  time,  universal  esteem  for  his 
integrity.  These  characteristics  he  trans- 
mitted to  his  sons,  William,  Joseph  and 
Francis,  —  especially  to  William,  whose 
commercial  transactions  were  of  the 
most  extensive  character.  All  were 
largely  concerned  in  the  whale  fisheries 
of  Nantucket,  of  which  they  may  almost 
be  said  to  have  been  the  founders. 
Francis  was  in  England  for  a  short  time 
in  1773,  but  had  returned  home  before 
his  tea  ships  arrived.  This  affair  was 
a  very  troublesome  one  for  a  young  man 
of  twenty-three  to  manage,  as  there  was 
a  tremendous  pressure  brought  to  bear 
upon  him  by  Samuel  Adams,  and  other 
influential  patriots,  to  return  the  teas  to 
England.  He  yielded  temporarily  to 
this  pressure,  promising  the  meeting  of 

6 


November  3oth,  that  the  tea  should  go 
back ;  but,  probably  after  consultation 
with  his  counsel,  Sampson  Salter  Blowers 
and  John  Adams,  decided  to  withdraw 
his  promise.  Rotch  pleaded  that  a  com- 
pliance would  ruin  him,  and  as  he  could 
not  obtain  a  pass  for  his  ships,  they 
would  either  have  been  sunk  by  the 
British  batteries,  or  captured  and  con- 
fiscated under  the  revenue  laws.  He 
succeeded  eventually  in  escaping  loss 
in  the  affair,  as  the  East  India  Company 
paid  him  the  freight  due  on  the  cargoes 
of  teas.  His  ship,  the  "  Bedford,"  if, 
said  to  have  been  the  first  to  display  the 
American  flag  on  the  Thames,  after  the 
war.  The  family  settled  in  New  Bedford, 
in  1768.  He  married  his  cousin,  Nancy 
Rotch,  who,  at  the  time  of  her  death, 
24th  April,  1867,  was  nine-two  years  of 
age.  The  accompanying  portrait  is 
copied  from  a  silhouette,  by  Miers,  pro- 
file painter,  in  Strand,  London,  ap- 
parently about  1795.  It  is  very  delicately 
painted,  on  a  hard  plaster  surface.  The 
features  are  well  marked,  and  the  lace 
ruffle  at  the  bosom,  and  the  queue,  are 
exceedingly  well  done.  It  is  now  in  the 
possession  of  Mr.  George  H.  Allan,  who 
received  it  from  his  uncle,  A.  A.  Rotch. 


XLII  INTRODUCTION. 

and  remained  in  session  until  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening, 
in  the  expectation  of  receiving  the  promised  proposal  of  the 
consignees.  These  gentlemen  were  not  to  be  found,  and  on 
the  next  day,  bidding  a  final  adieu  to  Boston,  they  took  up 
their  quarters  at  the  castle. 

Hutchinson  advised  the  consignees  to  order  the  vessels, 
when  they  arrived,  to  anchor  below  the  castle,  that  if  it 
should  appear  unsafe  to  land  the  tea,  they  might  go  to  sea 
again,  and  when  the  first  ship  arrived  she  anchored  there 
accordingly,  but  when  the  master  came  up  to  town,  Mr. 
Adams  and  others,  a  committee  of  the  town,  ordered  him 
at  his  peril  to  bring  the  ship  up  to  land  the  other  goods, 
but  to  suffer  no  tea  to  be  taken  out. 

The  committee  of  correspondence,  who  also  held  a  session 
that  day,  seeing  that  time  was  precious,  and  that  the  tea 
once  entered  it  would  be  out  of  the  power  of  the  consignees 
to  send  it  back,  obtained  the  promise  of  the  owner  not  to 
enter  his  ship  till  Tuesday,  and  authorized  Samuel  Adams 
to  summon  the  committees  and  townspeople  of  the  vicinity 
to  a  mass  meeting,  in  Boston,  on  the  next  morning.  The 
invitation  read  as  follows : 

"  A  part  of  the  tea  shipped  by  the  East  India  Company  is  now  arrived  in  this 
harbor,  and  we  look  upon  ourselves  bound  to  give  you  the  earliest  intimation  of 
it,  and  we  desire  that  you  favor  us  with  your  company  at  Faneuil  Hall,  at  nine 
o'clock  to-morrow  forenoon,  there  to  give  us  your  advice  what  steps  are  to  be 
immediately  taken,  in  order  effectually  to  prevent  the  impending  evil,  and  we 
request  you  to  urge  your  friends  in  the  town,  to  which  you  belong,  to  be  in  readi- 
ness to  exert  themselves  in  the  most  resolute  manner,  to  assist  this  town  in  its 
efforts  for  saving  this  oppressed  country." 

The  journals  of  Monday  announced  that  the  "Dartmouth" 
had  anchored  off  Long  Wharf,  and  that  other  ships  with  the 
poisonous  herb  might  soon  be  here.  They  also  contained 


INTRODUCTION. 


XLIII 


a  call  for  a  public  meeting,  as  announced  in  the  following 
handbill,  already  printed  and  distributed  throughout  the 
town  : 

"  Friends  !  Brethren  !  Countrymen  !  That  worst  of  plagues,  the  detested  tea, 
shipped  for  this  port  by  the  East  India  Company,  is  now  arrived  in  this  harbor; 
the  hour  of  destruction  or  manly  opposition  to  the  machinations  of  tyranny  stares 
you  in  the  face ;  every  friend  to  his  country,  to  himself,  and  posterity,  is  now 
called  upon  to  meet  at  Faneuil  Hall,  at  nine  o'clock  this  day,  (at  which  time  the 
bells  will  ring,)  to  make  a  united  and  successful  resistance  to  this  last,  worst  and 
most  destructive  measure  of  administration. 

Boston,  November  29,  1773."  ^ 

At  nine  o'clock  the  bells  were  rung,  and  the  people,  to 
the  number  of  at  least  five  thousand,  thronged  in  and  around 
Faneuil  Hall.  This  edifice,  then  about  half  as  large  as  now, 
was  entirely  inadequate  to  hold  the  concourse  that  had 
gathered  there.  Jonathan  Williams,1  a  citizen  of  character 
and  wealth,  was  chosen  moderator.  The  selectmen  were 
John  Scollay,  John  Hancock,  Timothy  Newell,  Thomas 
Newhall,  Samuel  Austin,  Oliver  Wendell,2  and  John  Pitts. 
The  patriotic  and  efficient  town  clerk,  William  Cooper,3 


1  Jonathan  Williams,  a  distinguished 
merchant  and  patriot,  captain  of  the 
Ancient  and  Honorable  Artillery  Com- 
pany, in  1751;  died  March  27,  1788. 
Jonathan,  his  father,  was  a  member  of 
the  Artillery  Company  in  1711. 

2Judge  Oliver  Wendell,  son  of  Hon. 
Jacob  Wendell,  was  born  in  Boston 
5th  March,  1733;  died,  isth  January, 
1818.  Harvard  College,  1753.  His 


daughter,  Sarah,  married  Rev.  Abiel 
Holmes,  the  father  of  the  poet,  Oliver 
Wendell  Holmes. 

•William  Cooper,  son  of  Rev.  William, 
and  brother  of  Rev.  Samuel,  of  the 
Brattle  Street  Church,  and  forty-nine 
years  town  clerk  of  Boston  ;  died 
November  28,  1809;  aged  89.  The 
brothers  were  both  active  patriots  of 
the  Revolution. 


XLIV  INTRODUCTION. 

was  also  present.  Samuel  Adams,  Dr.  Warren,  Hancock, 
Dr.  Young  and  Molineux  took  the  lead  in  the  debate. 
The  resolution  offered  by  Adams,  "  that  the  tea  should  not 
be  landed ;  that  it  should  be  sent  back  in  the  same  bottom 
to  the  place  whence  it  came,  at  all  events,  and  that  no  duty 
should  be  paid  on  it,"  was  unanimously  adopted.  On  hearing 
of  this  vote  the  consignees  withdrew  to  Castle  William. 
For  the  better  accommodation  of  the  people,  the  meeting 
then  adjourned  to  the  Old  South  Meeting  House. 

The  speeches  made  at  the  Old  South  have  not  been  pre- 
served. Some  were  violent,  others  were  calm,  advising  the 
people  by  all  means  to  abstain  from  violence,  but  the  men 
in  whom  they  placed  confidence  were  unanimous  upon  the 
question  of  sending  back  the  tea.  Dr.  Young  held  that  the 
only  way  to  get  rid  of  it  was  to  throw  it  overboard.  Here 
we  find  the  first  suggestion  of  its  ultimate  fate.  Both 
Whigs  and  Tories  united  in  the  action  of  the  meeting.  To 
give  the  consignees  time  to  make  the  expected  proposals, 
the  meeting  adjourned  till  three  o'clock. 

Of  this  assembly  Hutchinson  says :  "  Although  it  consisted 
principally  of  the  lower  ranks  of  the  people,  and  even  jour- 
neymen tradesmen  were  brought  to  increase  the  number, 
and  the  rabble  were  not  excluded,  yet  there  were  divers 
gentlemen  of  good  fortune  among  them."  With  regard  to 
the  speeches  he  observes :  "  Nothing  can  be  more  inflam- 
matory than  those  made  on  this  occasion ;  Adams  was  never 
in  greater  glory."  And  of  the  consignees  he  says :  "  They 
apprehended  they  should  be  seized,  and  may  be,  tarred  and 
feathered  and  carted,  —  an  American  torture,  —  in  order  to 
compel  them  to  a  compliance.  The  friends  of  old  Mr. 
Clarke,  whose  constitution  being  hurt  by  the  repeated  attacks 


INTRODUCTION.  XLV 

made  upon  him,  retired  into  the  country,  pressed  his  sons 
and  the  other  consignees  to  a  full  compliance." 

A  visitor  from  Rhode  Island  who  attended  the  meeting, 
speaking  of  its  regular  and  sensible  conduct,  said  he  should 
have  thought  himself  rather  in  the  British  senate  than  in 
the  promiscuous  assembly  of  the  people  of  a  remote  colony. 

At  the  afternoon  meeting  in  the  Old  South,  it  was  re- 
solved, upon  the  motion  of  Samuel  Adams,  "  that  the  tea  in 
Captain  Hall's  ship  must  go  back  in  the  same  bottom." 
The  owner  and  the  captain  were  informed  that  the  entry  of 
the  tea,  or  the  landing  of  it,  would  be  at  their  peril.  The 
ship  was  ordered  to  be  moored  at  Griffins'  wharf,  and  a  watch 
of  twenty-five  men  was  appointed  for  the  security  of  vessel 
and  cargo,  with  Captain  Edward  Proctor  as  captain  that 
night.  It  was  also  voted  that  the  governor's  call  on  the 
justices  to  meet  that  afternoon,  to  suppress  attempted  riots, 
was  a  reflection  on  the  people. 

Upon  Hancock's  representation  that  the  consignees  desired 
further  time  to  meet  and  consult,  the  meeting  consented, 
"out  of  great  tenderness  to  them,"  and  adjourned  until  next 
day.  This  meeting  also  voted  that  six  persons  "who  are 
used  to  horses  be  in  readiness  to  give  an  alarm  in  the 
country  towns,  when  necessary."  They  were  William  Rogers, 
Jeremiah  Belknap,  Stephen  Hall,  Nathaniel  Cobbett,  and 
Thomas  Gooding,  and  Benjamin  Wood,  of  Charlestown. 

The  guard  for  the  tea  ships,  which  consisted  of  from 
twenty-four  to  thirty-four  men,  was  kept  up  until  December  16. 
It  was  armed  with  muskets  and  bayonets,  and  proceeded 
with  military  regularity,  —  indeed  it  was  composed  in  part  of 
the  military  of  the  town,  —  and  every  half  hour  during  the 
night  regularly  passed  the  word  "  all 's  well,"  like  sentinels 


XLVI 


INTRODUCTION 


in  a  garrison.  It  was  on  duty  nineteen  days  and  twenty- 
three  hours.  If  molested  by  day  the  bells  of  the  town  were 
to  be  rung,  if  at  night  they  were  to  be  tolled.  We  have 
the  names  of  those  comprising  the  watch  on  November  29 
and  30.  They  are  : 

For  November  29.      Captain,  EDWARD  PROCTOR. 


Henry  Bass. 
Foster  Condy. 
John  Lovell. 
John  Winthrop. 
John  Greenleaf. 
Benjamin  Alley. 
Joshua  Pico. 
James  Henderson. 
Josiah  Wheeler. 
Joseph  Edwards. 
Jonathan  Stodder. 
Stephen  Bruce. 


Paul  Revere. 
Moses  Grant.     » 
Joseph  Lovering. 
Dr.  Elisha  Story. 
Thomas  Chase. 
Benjamin  Edes. 
Joseph  Pierce,  Jr. 
Captain  Riordan. 
John  Crane. 
John  McFadden. 
Thomas  Knox,  Jr. 
Robert  Hitchborn. 


November  30.      Captain,  EZEKIEL  CHEEVER.1 


Thomas  Urann. 
William  Dickman. 
Samuel  Peck. 
Thomas  Bolley. 
John  Rice. 
Joseph  Froude. 
Obadiah  Curtis. 
George  Ray. 
Benjamin  Ingerson. 
Adam  Collson. 
Daniel  Hewes. 


Joseph  Eayres. 
William  Sutton. 
Ebenezer  Ayres. 
William  Elberson. 
Benjamin  Stevens. 
James  Brewer. 
Rufus  Bant. 
William  Clap. 
Nicholas  Pierce. 
Thomas  Tileston. 
Richard  Hunnewell. 


1  Ezekiel  Cheever,  the  great  grandson 
of  the  famous  schoolmaster  of  that  name, 
in  the  early  days  of  New  England,  was 


born  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  May, 
1720.  He  was  by  trade  a  sugar-baker 
(confectioner),  and  from  1752  to  1755 


Slam  ac  Uu  Battle    of   B-unKer  s   Hfll     .Tune    ~a 

."y*KBtp« 

(Copied  from  the  Boston  print  of  1782,  it  being  from  the  London  print  previous  to  this  date.) 

"  May  our  land  be  a  land  of  liberty,  the  seat  of  virtue,  the  asylum  of   the  oppressed,  a  name,  a  praise  in 
the  whole  earth."  —  JOSEPH  WARREN. 
March  5,  1772. 


INTRODUCTION.  XLIX 

Hancock  and  Henry  Knox  were  members  of  this  volunteer 
guard.  Volunteers  were,  after  the  first  night,  requested  to 
leave  their  names  at  the  printing-office  of  Edes  and  Gill ; 
the  duty  of  providing  it  having  devolved  upon  the  com- 
mittee of  correspondence. 

Obadiah  Curtis,  born  in  Roxbury,  Mass.,  in  1724;  died  in  Newton,  Mass., 
November  11,  1811.  He  was  a  wheelwright  by  trade,  and  his  wife,  Martha,  kept 
an  English  goods  store,  at  the  corner  of  Rawson's  Lane,  (now  Bromfield  Street,) 
and  Newbury  (now  Washington)  Street,  and  accumulated  a  handsome  estate.  Be- 
coming obnoxious  to  the  British  authorities,  Mr.  Curtis  removed  with  his  family 
to  Providence,  remaining  there  until  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston.  A  person 
who  saw  him  at  this  time  thus  describes  his  appearance :  "  He  was  habited 
according  to  the  fashion  of  gentlemen  of  those  days,  —  in  a  three-cornered  hat, 
a  club  wig,  a  long  coat  of  ample  dimensions,  that  appeared  to  have  been  made 
with  reference  to  future  growth,  breeches  with  large  buckles,  and  shoes  fastened  in 
the  same  manner." 

James  Henderson  was  a  painter,  in  Boston,  at  the  beginning  of  this  century. 

Daniel  Hewes,  a  mason  by  trade,  resided  on  Purchase  Street,  where  he  died 
July  9,  1821 ;  aged  77.  He  was  a  brother  of  George  Robert  Twelves  Hewes. 

Robert  Hitchborn  was  a  cooper,  on  Anne  Street,  in  1789. 

Thomas  Knox,  Jr.,  a  branch  pilot,  died  in"  Charlestown,  Mass.,  in  April,  1817; 
aged  75.  He  joined  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew  in  1764.  In  1789  his 
residence  was  on  Friend  Street. 

Joseph  Lovering  was  a  tallow  chandler.  He  lived  on  the  corner  of  Hollis  and 
Tremont  Streets,  opposite  Crane  and  the  Bradlees.  Joseph  Lovering,  Jr.,  held 
the  light  by  which  Crane  and  others  disguised  themselves  in  Crane's  carpenter's 
shop,  on  the  evening  of  December  16.  Lovering  was^a  prominent  member  of  the 
Charitable  Mechanic  Association,  was  many  years  a  selectman  and  a  fireward 
under  the  old  town  government  of  Boston,  and  was  also  a  member  of  the  first 
Board  of  Aldermen,  under  Mayor  Phillips.  He  followed  his  father's  business, 
and  was  some  years  a  partner  in  the  firm  of  J.  Lovering  &  Sons. 

was  a  selectman  of   Charlestown.     Re-  of  the  war.     His  brother,  David,  also  a 

moving  to  Boston  he  joined  the  Sons  of  prominent  Son  of  Liberty,  was  appointed 

Liberty,   and  was    active    in    the    ante-  moderator  of  the  Old  South  meeting  of 

revolutionary   movements    of   the   town,  December  14,  but  declined.    Ezekiel  was 

and  prominent  in  its   public    meetings.  a  member  of  the  Committee  that  waited 

He  was  appointed  commissary  of  artillery  on  the   consignees  and  requested  their 

in  the  army  before  Boston,  May  17,  1775.  resignation. 
He  died  a  few  years  after  the  conclusion 


L  INTRODUCTION. 

Joshua  Pico,  a  cooper,  on  Sheaffe  Street,  residing  on  Clarke  Street;  died  in 
January,  1807. 

Joseph  Pierce,  Jr.,  was  a  merchant,  at  58  Cornhill,  in  1799. 

Nicholas  Pierce  was  a  bricklayer,  on  Back  (Salem)  Street,  in  1800. 

John  Rice  was  deputy-collector  at  Boston,  1789. 

Benjamin  Stevens  was  a  tailor,  at  33  Marlboro'  Street,  in  1789. 

Jonathan  Stodder  was  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's  Lodge  of  Freemasons,  in  1779. 

Thomas  Tileston,  born  September  21,  1735,  was  a  carpenter  on  Purchase  Street, 
in  1789.  His  father,  Onesiphorous  Tileston,  also  a  housewright  and  a  man  of 
wealth,  was  captain  of  the  Artillery  Company  in  1762. 

John  Winthrop  resided  in  Cambridge  Street,  and  died  February  12,  1800; 
aged  53. 

The  power  and  influence  of  the  Boston  committee  of 
correspondence,  which  played  so  important  a  part  in  the  tea 
affair,  can  best  be  estimated  by  a  glance  at  the  list  of 
names  of  its  members.  They  were,  Samuel  Adams,  James 
Otis,  Joseph  Warren,  William  Molineux,  Dr.  Benjamin 
Church,  William  Dennie,  William  and  Joseph  Greenleaf, 
Dr.  Thomas  Young,  William  Powell,  Nathaniel  Appleton, 
Oliver  Wendell,  Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.,  John  Sweetser,  Richard 
Boynton,  John  Bradford,  William  Mackay,  Nathaniel  Barber, 
Caleb  Davis,  Alexander  Hill,  and  Robert  Pierpont. 

After  the  dissolution  of  the  meeting  of  November  29, 
the  committee  met,  and  called  on  the  committees  from 
other  towns  to  join  them  on  all  necessary  occasions.  Be- 
sides sending  accounts  of  these  events  to  all  the  towns,  they 
also  wrote  to  the  committees  of  Rhode  Island,  New  Hamp- 
shire, New  York  and  Philadelphia,  explaining  their  course, 
acting,  as  they  said,  "in  the  faith  that  harmony  and  con- 
currence in  action  uniformly  and  firmly  maintained,  must 
finally  conduct  them  to  the  end  of  their  wishes,  namely,  a 
full  enjoyment  of  constitutional  liberty."  They  received 
cheering  replies  and  encouraging  assurances  from  all  quarters. 

At   the    meeting   next   morning,  a   letter   to    John  Scollay 


INTRODUCTION.  LI 

from  the  consignees,  containing  their  long-delayed  proposals, 
was  read.  They  expressed  sorrow  that  they  could  not  re- 
turn satisfactory  answers  to  the  two  messages  of  the  town, 
as  it  was  utterly  out  of  their  power  to  send  the  teas  back, 
but  said  they  were  willing  to  store  them  until  they  could 
communicate  with  their  constituents,  and  receive  their  fur- 
ther orders  respecting  them.  This  letter  irritated  the  meet- 
ing, and  it  declined  to  take  action  upon  it. 

Before  taking  final  leave  of  these  obstinate  gentlemen,  I 
make  a  few  citations  from  the  recently  published  volume  of 
"  The  Diary  and  Letters  of  Thomas  Hutchinson."  Writing 
to  his  son  at  the  castle  on  November  30,  Hutchinson  says : 
"  The  gentlemen  (consignees),  except  your  uncle  Clarke,  all 
went  to  the  castle  yesterday.  I  hope  they  will  not  comply 
with  such  a  monstrous  demand."  Hancock  and  Adams,  he 
says,  were  two  of  the  guard  of  the  tea  ship. 

Thomas  Hutchinson,  Jr.,  to  his  brother  Elisha: 

"CASTLE  WILLIAM,  December  14,  1773. 

.  .  .  T  imagine  you  are  anxious  to  know  what  the  poor  banished  com- 
missioners are  doing  at  the  castle.  Our  retreat  here  was  sudden,  but  our  enemies 
do  not  say  we  came  too  soon.  How  long  we  shall  be  imprisoned  'tis  impossible 
to  say.  ...  I  hear  there  is  a  meeting  of  the  mobility  to  day,  but  don't  know 
the  result.  I  hardly  think  they  will  attempt  sending  the  tea  back,  but  am  more 
sure  it  will  not  go  many  leagues.  The  commissioners  are  all  with  us,  and  we 
are  as  comfortable  as  we  can  be  in  a  very  cold  place,  driven  from  our  families 
and  business,  with  the  months  of  January  and  February  just  at  hand. 

p.S.  —  Our  situation  is  rendered  more  agreeable  by  the  polite  reception  we 
met  with  from  Col.  Leslie,  and  the  other  gentlemen  of  the  army." 

And  on  January  9,   1774,  he  writes: 

"  The  Bostonians  say  we  shall  not  return  to  town  without  making  concessions. 
I  suppose  we  shall  quit  the  castle  sometime  this  week,  as  we  are  all  provided 
with  retreats  in  the  country.  I  have  had  a  disagreeable  six  weeks  of  it,  but  am 
in  hopes  the  issue  will  be  well." 


LII  INTRODUCTION. 

And  again,  on  January  21,  dated   Milton: 

"  I  wrote  you  some  time  ago  I  was  in  hopes  our  harassment  was  drawing  to 
a  close,  and  that  we  should  leave  the  castle  last  week.  Mr.  Faneuil  and  myself 
coming  off  caused  a  supposition  that  we  intended  for  Boston,  which  was  the  cause 
of  Saturday's  notification  which  I  sent  you.1  Mr.  Faneuil  is  since  returned  to 
the  castle,  and  I  am  really  more  confined  than  if  I  was  there,  as  I  keep  pretty 
close  to  my  home.  Mr.  Jonathan  Clarke  sails  in  a  few  days  for  England,  of 
which  I  am  very  glad,  as  it  may  prevent  misapprehension  of  our  conduct  on  that 
side  of  the  water. 

A  proclamation  from  the  governor  was  brought  in  to  the 
meeting  by  Sheriff  Greenleaf,  which  he  begged  leave  of 
the  moderator  to  read.  Objection  was  made,  but  at  the 
suggestion  of  Samuel  Adams  the  meeting  consented  to 
hear  it.  The  governor  charged  that  the  meeting  of  the 
previous  day  "  openly  violated,  defied  and  set  at  naught  the 
good  and  wholesome  laws  of  the  Province,  and  as  great 
numbers  were  again  assembled  for  like  purposes,  I  warn," 
he  said,  "  exhort  and  require  you,  and  each  of  you,  thus 
unlawfully  assembled,  forthwith  to  disperse,  and  to  surcease 
all  further  unlawful  proceedings  at  your  peril."  The  read- 
ing was  received  with  general  and  continued  hisses,  and  a 
vote  that  the  meeting  would  not  disperse.  Mr.  Copley,  the 
son-in-law  of  Mr.  Clarke,  inquired  whether  the  meeting 

1  Probably   the   following   handbill   is  of  Boston !      I  therefore  give  you   this 

referred  to :  early    notice    that  you    may   hold   your- 

"  Brethren  and  Fellow  Citizens  !  selves    in    readiness     on     the    shortest 

You   may  depend    that  those  odious  warning,  to  give  them  such  a  reception 

miscreants  and  detestable  tools  to  minis-  as  such  vile  ingrates  deserve, 
try  and  government,  the  TEA  CONSIGN-  (Signed),          JOYCE,  Junior, 

EES,    (those    traitors   to    their    country—  Chairman  of  the  Committee  for 

butchers  —  who  have  done  and  are  doing  Tarring  and  Feathering. 

everything  to  murder  and  destroy  all  that          fl^p3  If  any  person  shall  be  so  hardy 

shall  stand  in  the  way  of  their  private  as    to   tear  this   down,   he   may  expect 

interest,)  are   determined  to  come  (from  my  severest  resentment, 
the  castle)  and  reside  again  in  the  town  J.,  Jun." 


INTRODUCTION.  LIII 

• 

would  hear  the  Messrs.  Clarke,  and  whether  they  would  be 
safe  while  coming  to  and  returning  from  the  meeting,  and 
whether  two  hours  would  be  allowed  him  in  which  to  con- 
sult with  them.  The  request  of  Copley,  who  was  sincerely 
desirous  of  effecting  a  peaceful  solution  of  the  difficulty,  was 
granted,  and  the  meeting  then  adjourned  until  two  o'clock. 

The  proceedings  of  this  afternoon  briefly  stated  were,  the 
promise  of  Rotch,  the  owner,  and  Hall,  the  captain  of  the 
"  Dartmouth,"  and  the  owners  of  the  two  other  vessels  ex- 
pected with  teas,  that  that  article  should  not  be  landed,  but 
should  go  back  in  the  same  ships,  and  the  apology  of  Mr. 
Copley  for  the  time  he  had  taken,  he  having  been  obliged 
to  go  to  the  castle,  where  the  consignees  decided  that  it 
would  be  inexpedient  for  them  to  attend  the  meeting,  but 
added  to  their  former  proposal  that  the  tea  should  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  inspection  of  a  committee,  and  also  saying 
that  as  they  had  not  been  active  in  introducing  the  tea, 
they  should  do  nothing  to  obstruct  the  people  in  returning  it. 

This  was  voted  unsatisfactory.  Resolves  were  then  passed 
to  the  effect  that  all  who  imported  tea  were  enemies  to  the 
country ;  that  its  landing  and  sale  should  be  prevented,  and 
that  the  tea  should  be  returned  to  the  place  whence  it  came. 
And  the  meeting  also  voted  to  send  these  resolves  to  every 
seaport  in  the  colonies  and  to  England.  The  committee  of 
correspondence  was  charged  to  make  provision  for  the  con- 
tinuation of  the  watch,  and  "  the  brethren  from  the  country" 
were  thanked  for  their  "  countenance  and  union,"  and  desired 
to  afford  their  assistance  on  notice  being  given,  and  it  was 
also  declared  to  be  "  the  determination  of  this  body  to 
carry  their  votes  and  resolves  into  execution  at  the  risk 
of  life  and  property." 


LIV  INTRODUCTION. 

Speaking  of  this  meeting,  Hutchinson  says :  "  A  more 
determined  spirit  was  conspicuous  in  this  body  than  in  any 
of  the  former  assemblies  of  the  people.  It  was  composed 
of  the  lowest  as  well,  and  probably  in  as  great  proportion, 
as  of  the  superior  ranks  and  orders,  and  all  had  an  equal 
voice.  No  eccentric  or  irregular  motions  were  suffered  to 
take  place.  All  seemed  to  have  been  the  plan  of  a  few,  it 
may  be  of  a  single  person." 

And  in  a  private  letter,  dated  December  i,  Hutchinson 
writes : 

"  While  the  rabble  was  together  in  one  place,  I  was  in  another,  not  far  dis- 
tant, with  his  majesty's  council,  urging  them  to  join  with  me  in  some  measure  to 
break  up  this  unlawful  assembly,  but  to  no  purpose.  I  hope  the  consignees  will 
continue  firm,  and  should  not  have  the  least  doubt  of  it  if  it  was  not  for  the 
solicitation  of  the  friends  of  Mr.  Clarke.  If  they  go  the  lengths  they  threaten, 
I  shall  be  obliged  to  retire  to  the  castle,  as  I  cannot  otherwise  make  any  exer- 
tions in  support  of  the  king's  authority." 

The  committee  of  correspondence  omitted  no  step  that 
prudence  or  caution  could  suggest  to  carry  out  the  determ- 
ination of  the  town.  A  letter  from  Philadelphia,  just  then 
received,  said :  "  Our  tea  consignees  have  all  resigned,  and 
you  need  not  fear,  the  tea  will  not  be  landed  here  nor  at 
New  York.  All  that  we  fear  is  that  you  will  shrink  at 
Boston.  May  God  give  you  virtue  enough  to  save  the 
liberties  of  your  country  !  " 

A  second  and  a  third  vessel  soon  arrived,  and  the  select- 
men gave  peremptory  orders,  to  prevent  clandestine  landing 
of  the  tea,  and  directed  them  to  be  anchored  by  the  side  of 
the  "  Dartmouth,"  at  Griffin's  Wharf.  One  guard  answered 
for  the  three  vessels.  As  the  time  drew  near  for  the  land- 
ing or  return  of  the  tea,  the  excitement  of  the  community 
increased.  "  Where  the  present  disorder  will  end,"  wrote 


INTRODUCTION.  LV 

Hutchinson,  "  I  cannot  make  a  probable  conjecture  ;  the 
town  is  as  furious  as  in  the  time  of  the  stamp  act."  "  The 
flame  is  kindled,"  so  wrote  the  wife  of  John  Adams,  "  and 
like  lightning,  it  catches  from  soul  to  soul.  .  .  .  My 
heart  beats  at  every  whistle  I  hear,  and  I  dare  not  express 
half  my  fears." 

Twenty  days  after  her  arrival  in  the  port,  a  vessel  was 
liable  to  seizure  for  the  non-payment  of  duties  on  articles 
imported  in  her,  nor  on  landing  a  portion  of  her  cargo, 
could  she  be  legally  cleared.  On  official  advice  from  the 
governor  to  Colonel  Leslie,  commander  of  the  castle,  and 
Admiral  Montagu,  the  latter  ordered  the  ships  of  war, 
"  Active "  and  "  King  Fisher,"  to  guard  the  passages  to  the 
sea,  and  permit  no  unauthorized  vessels  to  pass.  "  The 
patriots,"  said  Hutchinson,  "  now  found  themselves  in  a  web 
of  inextricable  difficulties."  "  But  where  there  is  a  will 
there  is  a  way,"  and  the  patriots  had  more  resources  than 
the  governor  dreamed  of. 

Rotch,  the  owner  of  the  "  Dartmouth,"  was  summoned 
before  the  committee  (December  n),  and  was  asked  by 
Samuel  Adams,  the  chairman,  why  he  had  not  kept  his 
pledge,  to  send  his  vessel  and  tea  back  to  London.  He 
replied  that  it  was  out  of  his  power  to  do  so.  He  was 
advised  to  apply  for  a  clearance  and  a  pass.  "  The  ship 
must  go,"  said  Adams,  "the  people  of  Boston  and  the  neigh- 
boring towns  absolutely  require  and  expect  it." 

The  journals  of  the  day  are  filled  with  items  concerning 
the  tea  question.  Little  else  was  now  thought  of.  They 
contained  the  resolves  of  the  Massachusetts  towns,  encourag- 
ing Boston  to  stand  firm,  and  assuring  her  of  their  support, 
and  accounts  from  Philadelphia  and  New  York  of  the  determ- 


LVI  INTRODUCTION. 

ination  to  nullify  the  tea  act,  and  of  the  declination  of 
the  consignees  in  the  latter  place. 

The  "  Gazette,"  of  December  1 3,  editorially  says :  "  The 
minds  of  the  public  are  greatly  irritated  at  the  delay  of  Mr. 
Rotch,  to  take  the  necessary  steps  towards  complying  with 
their  peremptory  requisition."  On  this  day  an  important 
session  of  the  committee  of  the  five  towns  already  named 
took  place  at  Faneuil  Hall.  "  No  business  transacted  matter 
of  record,"  is  the  brief  but  suggestive  entry  as  to  its  doings. 

Dorchester,  in  legal  town  meeting,  declared  that,  "  should 
this  country  be  so  unhappy  as  to  see  a  day  of  trial  for  the 
recovery  of  its  rights  by  a  last  and  solemn  appeal  to  Him 
who  gave  them,  they  should  not  be  behind  the  bravest  of  our 
patriotic  brethren."  Marblehead  affirmed  that  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  brave  citizens  of  Boston,  and  of  other  towns,  in 
opposition  to  the  landing  of  the  tea,  were  rational,  generous 
and  just;  that  they  were  highly  honored  for  their  noble 
firmness  in  support  of  American  liberty,  and  that  the  men 
of  the  town  were  ready  with  their  lives  to  assist  their  breth- 
ren in  opposing  all  measures  tending  to  enslave  the  country." 
Under  date  of  December  3,  the  people  of  Roxbury  voted 
that  they  were  in  duty  bound  to  join  with  Boston,  and  other 
sister  towns,  to  preserve  inviolate  the  liberties  handed  down 
by  their  ancestors.  Next  day  the  men  of  Charlestown  de- 
clared themselves  ready  to  risk  their  lives  and  fortunes. 
Newburyport,  Maiden,  Lexington,  Leicester,  Fitchburg, 
Gloucester,  and  other  towns,  also  preferred  their  aid  when 
needed. 

The  "  Gazette,"  under  date  of  Salem,  December  7,  has  the 
following :  "  By  what  we  can  learn  from  private  intelligence, 
as  well  as  the  public  proceedings  of  a  number  of  principal 


INTRODUCTION.  LVII 

towns  contiguous  to  the  capital,  the  people,  if  opposed  in 
their  proceedings  with  respect  to  the  tea,  are  determined 
upon  hazarding  a  brush,  therefore  those  who  are  willing  to 
bear  a  part  in  it  in  preserving  the  rights  of  this  country, 
would  do  well  to  get  suitably  prepared."  This  looked  like 
business. 

On  the  morning  of  December  14,  the  following  handbill 
appeared  in  Boston  : 

Friends  !  Brethren  !  Countrymen  !  The  perfidious  act  of  your  reckless  ene- 
mies to  render  ineffectual  the  late  resolves  of  the  body  of  the  people,  demands 
your  assembling  at  the  Old  South  Meeting  House,  precisely  at  ten  o'clock  this 
day,  at  which  time  the  bells  will  ring." 

The  meeting  thus  called  was  largely  attended.  Samuel 
Phillips  Savage,1  of  Weston,  was  chosen  moderator.  Bruce, 
the  master  of  the  "  Eleanor,"  promised  to  ask  for  a  clear- 
ance for  London,  when  all  his  goods  were  landed,  except 
the  tea,  but  said  that,  if  refused,  "he  was  loth  to  stand  the 
shot  of  thirty-two  pounders."  Rotch,  accompanied  by  Samuel 
Adams,  Benjamin  Kent,  and  eight  others,  applied  to  the 
collector  of  the  port  for  a  clearance,  and  reported,  on  his 
return,  that  the  collector  desired  to  consult  with  the  comp- 
troller, and  promised  an  answer  on  the  following  morning. 
The  meeting  then  adjourned  until  Thursday. 

Next  day  Rotch,  with  the  Committee,  proceeded  to  the 
Custom  House.  Harrison,  the  Collector,  and  Comptroller 


1A  merchant  and  a  former  selectman  tion,  and    from    Nov.    2,    1775,    till    his 

of    Boston,   member    of   the    Provincial  death,  a  Judge  of  the  Court  of  Common 

Congress,  President    of    the    Massachu-  Pleas  for  Middlesex    County.     He   died 

setts  Board  of  War  during  the  Revolu-  at  Weston  in  December,  1797;  aged  79. 


LVIII  INTRODUCTION. 

Hallowell,  were  both  present.  The  owner  said  that  he  was 
required  and  compelled  at  his  peril  by  the  meeting  to  make 
the  demand  for  the  clearance  of  his  vessel  for  London,  with 
the  tea  on  board,  and  one  of  the  committee  stated  that 
they  were  present  only  as  witnesses.  The  Collector  unequiv- 
ocally and  finally  refused  to  grant  his  ship  a  clearance  until 
it  should  be  discharged  of  the  teas.  The  result  was  reported 
to  the  meeting  on  the  following  morning. 

The  eventful  Thursday,  December  16,  1773,  a  day  ever 
memorable  in  the  annals  of  the  town,  witnessed  the  largest 
gathering  yet  seen  at  the  Old  South  Meeeting  House. 
Nearly  seven  thousand  persons  constituted  the  assembly. 
Business  was  laid  aside,  and  notwithstanding  the  rain,  at 
least  two  thousand  people  flocked  in  from  the  country  for 
twenty  miles  around.  This  time  there  was  no  need  of 
handbills  —  there  were  none.  No  effort  was  required  to 
bring  together  the  multitude  that  quietly  but  anxiously 
awaited  the  outcome  of  the  meeting.  The  gravity  of  the 
situation  was  universally  felt.  Immediate  action  was  neces- 
sary, as  the  twenty  days  allowed  for  clearance  terminated 
that  night.  Then  the  revenue  officials  could  take  possession, 
and  under  cover  of  the  naval  force  land  the  tea,  and  opposi- 
tion to  this  would  have  caused  bloody  work.  The  patriots 
would  gladly  have  avoided  the  issue,  but  it  was  forced  upon 
them,  and  they  could  not  recede  with  honor. 

The  committee  having  reported  the  failure  of  its  appli- 
cation for  a  clearance,  Rotch  was  directed  to  enter  a  protest 
at  the  Custom  House,  and  to  apply  to  the  governor  for  a 
pass  to  proceed  on  this  day  with  his  vessel  on  his  voyage 
for  London.  He  replied  that  it  was  impracticable  to  comply 


INTRODUCTION.  LIX 

with  this  requirement.  He  was  then  reminded  of  his  prom- 
ise, and  on  being  asked  if  he  would  now  direct  the 
"Dartmouth"  to  sail,  replied  that  he  would  not.  The 
meeting,  after  directing  him  to  use  all  possible  dispatch  in 
making  his  protest  and  procuring  his  pass,  adjourned  until 
three  o'clock. 

At  the  afternoon  meeting,  information  was  given  that 
several  towns  had  agreed  not  to  use  tea.  A  vote  was  taken 
to  the  effect  that  its  use  was  improper  and  pernicious,  and 
that  it  would  be  well  for  all  the  towns  to  appoint  com- 
mittees of  inspection  "to  prevent  this  accursed  tea"  from 
coming  among  them.  "  Shall  we  abide  by  our  former 
resolution  with  respect  to  the  not  suffering  the  tea  to  be 
landed  ? "  was  now  the  question.  Samuel  Adams,  Dr. 
Thomas  Young  and  Josiah  Quincy,  Jr.,1  an  ardent  young 
patriot  devotedly  attached  to  the  liberties  of  his  country, 
were  the  principal  speakers.  Only  a  fragment  of  the  speech 
of  Quincy  remains.  Counselling  moderation,  and  in  a 
spirit  of  prophecy,  he  said : 

"  It  is  not,  Mr.  Moderator,  the  spirit  that  vapors  within  these  walls  that  must 
stand  us  in  stead.  The  exertions  of  this  day  will  call  forth  the  events  which  will 
make  a  very  different  spirit  necessary  for  our  salvation.  Whoever  supposes  that 
shouts  and  hosannas  will  terminate  the  trials  of  the  day,  entertains  a  childish 
fancy.  We  must  be  grossly  ignorant  of  the  importance  and  value  of  the  prize  for 
which  we  contend ;  we  must  be  equally  ignorant  of  the  power  of  those  who  have 
combined  against  us  ;  we  must  be  blind  to  that  malice,  inveteracy  and  insatiable 
revenge  which  actuates  our  enemies,  public  and  private,  abroad  and  in  our  bosom, 
to  hope  that  we  shall  end  this  controversy  without  the  sharpest,  the  sharpest  con- 
flicts ;  to  flatter  ourselves  that  popular  resolves,  popular  harangues,  popular  accla- 
mations, and  popular  vapor  will  vanquish  our  foes.  Let  us  consider  the  issue. 


1  Quincy  visited  England  in  1774,  and  a  lawyer,  and  in  conjunction  with  John 

died  on  the  passage  home,  in   sight  of  Adams,  defended  the  perpetrators  of  the 

his  native  land,  April  26,  1775.     He  was  "Boston  Massacre." 

8 


LX  INTRODUCTION. 

Let  us  look  to  the  end.  Let  us  weigh  and  consider  before  we  advance  to  those 
measures  which  must  bring  on  the  most  trying  and  terrific  struggle  this  country 
ever  saw." 

But  the  time  for  weighing  and  considering  the  business 
in  hand  had  passed.  Time  pressed  and  decisive  action 
alone  remained.  "  Now  that  the  hand  is  at  the  plough,"  it 
was  said,  "  there  must  be  no  looking  back." 

At  half-past  four  it  was  unanimously  voted  that  the  tea 
should  not  be  landed.  An  effort  was  now  made  to  dissolve 
the  meeting,  but  it  was  continued  at  the  request  of  some  of 
those  present  from  the  country,  who  wished  to  hear  the 
result  of  Rotch's  application  to  the  governor. 

It  was  an  unusual  time  of  the  year  to  be  at  a  country 
seat,  but  Governor  Hutchinson  was  found  at  his  Milton 
residence  by  Rotch,  who  renewed  his  request  for  a  pass. 
Questioned  by  the  governor  as  to  the  intentions  of  the 
people,  Rotch  replied  that  they  only  intended  to  force  the 
tea  back  to  England,  but  that  there  might  be  some  who 
desired  that  the  vessel  might  go  down  the  harbor  and  be 
brought  to  by  a  shot  from  the  castle,  that  it  might  be  said 
that  the  people  had  done  everything  in  their  power  to  send 
the  tea  back.  "  Catching  at  this  straw,  with  the  instinct  of 
a  drowning  man,"  Hutchinson  offered  Rotch  a  letter  to 
Admiral  Montagu,  commending  ship  and  goods  to  his  pro- 
tection, if  Rotch  would  agree  to  have  his  ship  haul  out 
into  the  stream,  but  he  replied  that  none  were  willing  to 
assist  him  in  doing  this,  and  that  the  attempt  would  subject 
him  to  the  ill  will  of  the  people.  Hutchinson  then  sternly 
repeated  his  refusal  of  a  pass,1  as  it  would  have  been  "  a 
direct  countenancing  and  encouraging  the  violation  of  the 

1  Lord  Mahon,  a  candid  British  historian,  thinks  this  concession  unwisely  denied. 


"Who   knows  how  tea   will  mingle   with   salt  water?" — JOHN  ROWE.      Old  South  Church,  Boston,  Dec. 
'773- 


INTRODUCTION. 


LXIII 


acts  of  trade."  Thus  closed  the  last  opportunity  for  con- 
cession. 

It  is  only  fair  to  say  that  the  performance  of  what  he 
honestly  believed  to  be  his  duty  was  as  vi-tal  a  consideration 
with  Thomas  Hutchinson,  the  royal  governor,  as  opposition 
to  measures  which  he  believed  to  be  hostile  to  the  liberties 
of  his  country  was  to  Samuel  Adams,  the  popular  leader. 
We  can  at  this  day  well  afford  to  mete  out  this  tardy  justice 
to  a  man  whose  motives  and  conduct  have  been  so  bitterly 
and  unscrupulously  vilified  and  maligned  as  have  been  those 
of  Thomas  Hutchinson. 

When  Rotch  returned  and  told  the  result  of  his  applica- 
tion, it  was  nearly  six  o'clock.  Darkness  had  set  in,  and 
the  Old  South,  dimly  lighted  with  candles,  was  still  filled 
with  an  anxious  and  impatient  multitude.  "  Who  knows," 
said  John  Rowe,1  "how  tea  will  mingle  with  salt  water?" 


1John  Rowe,  a  prominent  merchant 
and  patriotic  citizen  of  Boston,  died 
February  17,  1787;  aged  72  years.  He 
was  many  years  a  Selectman,  Overseer 
of  the  Poor,  and  representative  to  the 
General  Court,  and  was  chairman  of 
the  committee  chosen  June  16,  1779,  to 
fix  the  prices  of  merchandise,  and  to 
bring  to  punishment  all  offenders  against 
the  act  against  monopoly  and  forestall- 
ing. He  was  a  member  of  the  First 
Lodge  of  Freemasons,  Boston,  in  1740; 


master  of  the  same  Lodge  in  1749,  and 
fifth  Provincial  Grand  Master  in  1768. 
When,  in  1766,  Rowe  was  proposed  for 
representative,  Samuel  Adams  artfully 
suggested  another,  by  asking  —  with  his 
eyes  on  Mr.  Hancock's  house  — "  Is 
there  not  another  John  that  may  do 
better  ?  "  The  hint  took,  and  the  wealth 
and  influence  of  Hancock  were  secured 
on  the  side  of  liberty.  Rowe's  mansion, — 
subsequently  that  of  Judge  Prescott, 
father  of  the  historian,  —  stood  on  the 


LXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

The  people  hurrahed  vehemently,  and  the  cry  arose,  "  A 
mob  !  a  mob ! "  A  call  to  order  restored  quiet.  Dr.  Young 
then  addressed  the  meeting,  saying  that  Rotch  was  a  good 
man,  who  had  done  all  in  his  power  to  gratify  the  people, 
and  charged  them  to  do  no  hurt  to  his  person  or  property. 

To  the  final  question  then  put  to  him,  whether  he  would 
send  his  vessel  back  with  the  tea  in  her,  under  the  present 
circumstances,  he  replied,  that  he  could  not,  as  he  "  appre- 
hended that  a  compliance  would  prove  his  ruin."  He  also 
admitted  that  if  called  upon  by  the  proper  persons,  he 
should  attempt  to  land  the  tea  for  his  own  security. 

Adams  then  arose  and  uttered  the  fateful  words,  "  This 
meeting  can  do  nothing  more  to  save  the  country."  This 
was  doubtless  the  preconcerted  signal  for  action,  and  it  was 
answered  by  the  men  who  sounded  the  war-whoop  at  the 
church  door.  The  cry  was  re-echoed  from  the  gallery,  where 
a  voice  cried  out,  "  Boston  harbor  a  tea-pot  to-night ;  hurrah 
for  Griffin's  wharf  !  "  and  the  "  Mohawks "  passed  on  to  cut 
the  Gordian  knot  with  their  hatchets. 

Silence  was  again  commanded,  when  the  people,  after 
"  manifesting  a  most  exemplary  patience  and  caution  in  the 
methods  they  had  pursued  to  preserve  the  property  of  the 
East  India  Company,  and  to  return  it  safe  and  untouched 
to  its  owners,"  perceiving  that  at  every  step  they  had  been 
thwarted  by  the  consignees  and  their  coadjutors,  then  dis- 
solved the  meeting,  giving  three  cheers  as  they  dispersed. 

Meanwhile  a  number  of  persons,  variously  estimated  at 
from  twenty  to  eighty,  (their  number  increasing  as  they 

spot  lately  occupied  by  Dr.  Robbins'  friend  of  his  country,  but  the  wharf  alone 
church,  in  Bedford  Street.  A  wharf  and  retains  the  title.  Since  1856,  Rowe  Street 
street  once  bore  the  name  of  this  true  has  been  absorbed  in  Chauncy  Street. 


INTRODUCTION.  LXV 

advanced,)  some  of  them  disguised  as  Indians,  and  armed 
with  hatchets  or  axes,  hurried  to  Griffin's  (now  Liverpool) 
wharf,  boarded  the  ships,  and,  warning  their  crews  and  the 
customs  officers  to  keep  out  of  the  way,  in  less  than  three 
hours  time  had  broken  and  emptied  into  the  dock  three 
hundred  and  forty-two  chests  of  tea,  valued  at  ,£18,000.  The 
deed  was  not  that  of  a  lawless  mob,  but  the  deliberate  and 
well-considered  act  of  intelligent,  as  well  as  determined, 
men.  So  careful  were  they  not  to  destroy  or  injure  private 
property,  that  they  even  replaced  a  padlock  they  had 
broken.  There  was  no  noise  nor  confusion.  They 
worked  so  quietly  and  systematically  that  those  on  shore 
could  distinctly  hear  the  strokes  of  the  hatchets.  As  soon 
as  the  people  learned  what  was  going  forward,  they  made 
their  way  to  the  scene  of  operations,  covering  the  wharves 
in  the  vicinity,  whence  they  looked  on  in  silence  during  the 
performance.  The  night  was  clear,  the  moon  shone  brilliantly, 
no  one  was  harmed,  and  the  town  was  never  more  quiet. 
Next  day,  the  Dorchester  shore  was  lined  with  tea,  carried 
thither  by  the  wind  and  tide.  The  serious  spirit  in  which 
this  deed  was  regarded  by  the  leaders,  is  illustrated  by  the 
act  of  one  who,  after  assisting  his  apprentice  to  disguise 
himself,  dropped  upon  his  knees  and  prayed  fervently  for 
his  safety,  and  the  success  of  the  enterprise. 

Among  the  spectators  of  the  scene  were  Dr.  John  Prince, 
of  Salem ;  John  Andrews,  and  Dr.  Hugh  Williamson,  who 
afterwards  underwent  an  examination  respecting  the  affair 
before  the  British  House  of  Commons. 

Where  is.  now  the  wide  Atlantic  Avenue,  the  old  footpath 
under  Fort  Hill,  known  as  Flounder  Lane,  and  afterwards 
as  Broad  Street,  wound  around  the  margin  of  the  water. 


LXVI  INTRODUCTION. 

Sea  Street  was  its  continuation  to  Wheeler's  Point  (the  foot 
of  Summer  Street).  Opposite  where  Hutchinson  (now  Pearl) 
Street  entered  Flounder  Lane,  was  Griffin's  Wharf.  The 
laying  out  of  Broad  Street  and  Atlantic  Avenue,  and  the 
consequent  widening  and  filling  in,  have  resulted  in  obliter- 
ating Griffin's  Wharf,  although  in  Liverpool  wharf  it  has  a 
legitimate  successor.  The  old  dock  logs  were  found  near 
the  centre  of  the  avenue.  The  coal  office  of  the  Messrs. 
Chapin  now  occupies  the  site  rendered  memorable  by  the 
exploit  of  the  Boston  tea  party. 

The  destruction  of  the  tea  is  said  to  have  been  planned 
in  the  "  Long  Room,"  over  Edes  &  Gills'  printing-office,  on 
the  easterly  corner  of  Franklin  Avenue  and  Court  Street, 
where  the  "Daily  Advertiser"  building  recently  stood.  In 
their  back  office  some  of  the  party  it  is  said  were  disguised. 

Among  the  members  of  the  "  Long  Room  Club,"  as  those 
who  usually  met  here  were  styled,  were  Samuel  Adams, 
Hancock,  Warren,  Otis,  Church,  Samuel  Dexter,  Dr.  Samuel 
Cooper,  and  his  brother,  William  Cooper,  Thomas  Dawes, 
Samuel  Phillips  Savage,  Royal  Tyler,  Paul  Revere,  Thomas 
Fleet,  John  Winthrop,  William  Molineux,  and  Thomas 
Melvill. 

A  similar  claim  is  also  made  for  the  "  Green  Dragon " 
tavern,  then  known  as  the  "  Freemasons'  Arms,"  which  stood 
near  the  northerly  corner  of  Union  and  Hanover  Streets, 
where  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew  held  its  meetings. 
The  honor  belongs  equally  to  both.  In  both,  the  consulta- 
tions of  the  popular  leaders  were  undoubtedly  held  and 
their  plans  laid.  Prominent  members  of  this  Lodge,  who 
were  also  active  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  and  members  of  the  tea 


INTRODUCTION.  LXVII 

party  were,  Paul  Revere,  Edward  Proctor,  Thomas  Chase, 
Adam  Collson,  Samuel  Peck  and  Thomas  Urann.  Its  later 
members,  also  identified  with  the  tea  party,  were  Samuel 
Gore,  Daniel  Ingersoll,  Henry  Purkitt,  Amos  Lincoln,  James 
Swan,  Robert  Davis,  Abraham  Hunt,  Eliphalet  Newell  and 
Nathaniel  Willis.  Other  prominent  Free  Masons  active  in 
the  tea  affair  were  Dr.  Warren  and  John  Rowe.  The  tradi- 
tion of  the  Lodge  is,  that  the  preliminaries  of  the  affair 
were  arranged  here,  and  that  the  execution  of  them  was 
committed  mainly  to  the  North  End  Caucus,  with  the  co- 
operation of  the  more  daring  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty." 
The  committee  of  safety  also  met  here.  The  record  book 
of  the  lodge,  under  date  of  November  30,  1773,  says: 

"  Lodge  met  and  adjourned.  N.  B.  —  The  consignees  of  the  tea  took  the 
brethren's  time." 

And  on  the  eventful   :6th  of  December: 

"  The  Lodge  met  and  closed  on  account  of  the  few  members  in  attendance. 
Adjourned  until  to-morrow  evening." 

Three  different  parties,  one  or  two  of  whom  were  dis- 
guised, had  been  prepared  beforehand  for  this  event,  by  the 
leaders.  Certain  it  is  that  there  were  several  squads  in 
different  parts  of  the  town,  who  disguised  themselves  at 
their  own  or  their  neighbors'  houses,  and  who  then  rendez- 
voused at  points  previously  designated,  before  going  to  the 
wharf.  Quite  an  Indian  village  was  improvised  at  the 
junction  of  Hollis  and  Tremont  Streets.  John  Crane,  Joseph 
Levering,  and  the  Bradlees  occupied  opposite  corners  of  this 
locality,  the  house  and  carpenter  shop  of  Crane  adjoining 
the  refidence  of  the  famous  Dr.  Mather  Byles.  Captain 
Thomas  Bolter  and  Samuel  Fenno,  also  of  the  tea  party, 
were  near  neighbors  of  Crane,  and  like  him,  were  carpenters. 


LXVIII  INTRODUCTION. 

Joseph  Levering,  Jr.,  related  that  he  held  the  light  for  Crane 
and  some  of  his  neighbors,  to  disguise  themselves,  in  Crane's 
shop.  The  four  brothers  Bradlee,  and  a  brother-in-law,  were 
prepared  for  the  occasion  at  their  house  opposite. 

Perhaps  the  best  contemporaneous  account  of  the  affair 
is  the  following,  from  the  "  Massachusetts  Gazette,"  of 
December  23  : 

"  Just  before  the  dissolution  of  the  meeting,"  says  the  '  Gazette,'  a  number  of 
brave  and  resolute  men,  dressed  in  the  Indian  manner,  approached  near  the  door 
of  the  assembly,  and  gave  a  war-whoop,  which  rang  through  the  house,  and  was 
answered  by  some  in  the  galleries,  but  silence  was  commanded,  and  a  peaceable 
deportment  enjoined  until  the  dissolution.  The  Indians,  as  they  were  then  called, 
repaired  to  the  wharf,  where  the  ships  lay  that  had  the  tea  on  board,  and  were 
followed  by  hundreds  of  people,  to  see  the  event  of  the  transactions  of  those  who 
made  so  grotesque  an  appearance.  The  Indians  immediately  repaired  on  board 
Captain  Hall's  ship,  where  they  hoisted  out  the  chests  of  tea,  and  when  on  deck 
stove  them  and  emptied  the  tea  overboard.  Having  cleared  this  ship,  they  pro- 
ceeded to  Captain  Bruce's,  and  then  to  Captain  Coffin's  brig.  They  applied  them- 
selves so  dexterously  to  the  destruction  of  this  commodity,  that  in  the  space  of 
three  hours  they  broke  up  three  hundred  and  forty-two  chests,  which  was  the 
whole  number  in  these  vessels,  and  discharged  their  contents  into  the  dock. 
When  the  tide  rose  it  floated  the  broken  chests  and  the  tea  insomuch  that  the 
surface  of  the  water  was  filled  therewith  a  considerable  way  from  the  south  part 
of  the  town  to  Dorchester  Neck,  and  lodged  on  the  shores.  There  was  the 
greatest  care  taken  to  prevent  the  tea  from  being  purloined  by  the  populace ;  one 
or  two  being  detected  in  endeavoring  to  pocket  a  small  quantity  were  stripped  of 
their  acquisitions  and  very  roughly  handled.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  although 
a  considerable  quantity  of  goods  were  still  remaining  on  board  the  vessel,  no 
injury  was  sustained.  Such  attention  to  private  property  was  observed,  that  a 
small  padlock  belonging  to  the  captain  of  one  of  the  ships  being  broke,  another 
was  procured  and  sent  to  him.  The  town  was  very  quiet  during  the  whole  even- 
ing and  the  night  following.  Those  who  were  from  the  country  went  home  with 
a  merry  heart,  and  the  next  day  joy  appeared  in  almost  every  countenance,  some 
on  account  of  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  others  on  account  of  the  quietness  with 
which  it  was  effected.  One  of  the  Monday's  papers  says  the  masters  and  owners 
are  well  pleased  that  their  ships  are  thus  cleared," 


INTRODUCTION.  LXIX 

Another  Boston  paper  says : 

"  The  people  repaired  to  Griffin's  wharf,  where  the  tea  vessels  lay,  proceeded 
to  fix  tackles  and  hoist  the  tea  upon  deck,  cut  the  chests  to  pieces,  and  throw 
the  tea  over  the  side.  .  .  .  They  began  upon  the  two  ships  first,  as  they  had 
nothing  on  board  but  the  tea,  then  proceeded  to  the  brig,  which  had  hauled  to 
the  wharf  but  the  day  before,  and  had  but  a  small  part  of  her  cargo  out.  The 
captain  of  the  brig  begged  they  would  not  begin  with  his  vessel,  as  the  tea  was 
covered  with  goods  belonging  to  different  merchants  in  the  town.  They  told  him 
'  the  tea  they  wanted,  and  the  tea  they  would  have,  but  if  he  would  go  into  his 
cabin  quietly,  not  one  article  of  his  goods  should  be  hurt.'  They  immediately 
proceeded  to  remove  the  goods,  and  then  to  dispose  of  the  tea.'" 

From  the  "Evening  Post"  of  Monday,  December  20,  1773: 

"  Previous  to  the  dissolution,  a  number  of  persons,  supposed  to  be  the  aborig- 
inal natives,  from  their  complexion,  approaching  the  door  of  the  assembly,  gave 
the  war-whoop,  which  was  answered  by  a  few  in  the  galleries  of  the  house,  where 
the  crowded  assembly  was  convened.  Silence  was  commanded,  and  prudent  and 
peaceable  deportment  again  enjoined.  The  savages  repaired  to  the  ships  which 
contained  the  pestilential  tea,  and  had  begun  their  ravages  previous  to  the  dis- 
solution of  the  meeting." 

Extract  from  the  log-book  of  the  "  Dartmouth  : " 

"  Thursday,  December  16.  This  twenty-four  hours  rainy  weather,  terminating 
this  day.  Between  six  and  seven  o'clock  this  evening,  came  down  to  the  wharf  a 
body  of  about  one  thousand  people,  among  them  were  a  number  dressed  and 
whooping  like  Indians.  They  came  on  board  the  ship,  and  after  warning  myself 
and  the  custom-house  officers  to  get  out  of  the  way,  they  undid  the  hatches  and 
went  down  the  hold,  where  was  eighty  whole,  and  thirty-four  half  chests,  of  tea, 
which  they  hoisted  upon  deck,  and  cut  the  chests  to  pieces,  and  hove  the  tea  all 
overboard,  where  it  was  damaged  and  lost." 

John  Andrews,  an  eye-witness,  in  a  letter  to  a  friend  relates 
particulars  not  elsewhere  mentioned.  While  drinking  tea  at 
his  house  he  heard  "  prodigious  shouts,"  and  went  to  the 
Old  South  Meeting  House  to  ascertain  the  cause : 

"  The  house  was  so  crowded,"  he  says,  "  that  I  could  get  no  further  than  the 
porch,  when  I  found  the  moderator  was  just  declaring  the  meeting  to  be  dissolved, 
which  caused  another  general  shout  out-doors  and  in,  and  three  cheers.  What 
with  that  and  the  consequent  noise  of  breaking  up  the  meeting,  you'd  thought 

9 


LXX  INTRODUCTION. 

the  inhabitants  of  the  infernal  regions  had  broke  loose.  For  my  part,  I  went 
contentedly  home  and  finished  my  tea,  but  was  soon  informed  what  was  going 
forward.  Not  crediting  it  without  ocular  demonstration,  I  went  and  was  satisfied. 
They  mustered,  I'm  told,  upon  Fort  Hill,  to  the  number  of  about  two  hundred, 
and  proceeded,  two  by  two,  to  Griffin's  wharf,  where  Hall,  Bruce  and  Coffin  lay. 
.  .  .  The  latter  arrived  at  the  wharf  only  the  day  before,  and  was  freighted 
with  a  large  quantity  of  other  goods,  which  they  took  the  greatest  care  not  to 
injure  in  the  least,  and  before  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening  every  chest  on  board 
the  three  vessels  was  knocked  to  pieces  and  flung  over  the  sides.  They  say  the 
actors  were  Indians  from  Narragansett ;  whether  they  were  or  not,  to  a  transient 
observer '  they  appeared  as  such,  being  clothed  in  blankets,  with  their  heads 
muffled,  and  copper-colored  countenances,  being  each  armed  with  a  hatchet  or  axe, 
or  pair  of  pistols,  nor  was  their  dialect  different  from  what  I  conceive  these 
geniuses  to  speak,  as  their  jargon  was  unintelligible  to  all  but  themselves.  Not 
the  least  insult  was  offered  to  any  person  save  one  Captain  Connor,  a  letter  of 
horses  in  this  place,  not  many  years  since  removed  from  dear  Ireland,  who  had 
ript  up  the  lining  of  his  coat  and  waistcoat  under  the  arms,  and  watching  his 
opportunity,  had  nearly  filled  them  with  tea,  but  being  detected,  was  handled  pretty 
roughly.  They  not  only  stripped  him  of  his  clothes,  but  gave  him  a  coat  of  mud, 
with  a  severe  bruising  into  the  bargain,  and  nothing  but  their  utter  aversion  to 
making  any  disturbance  preyented  his  being  tarred  and  feathered." 

Many  interesting  details  are  supplied  by  the  reminiscences 
of  the  actors  themselves,  long  afterwards.  In  the  "  Recol- 
lections of  a  Bostonian,"  published  in  the  "  Centinel,"  in 
1821-22,  the  writer  says  he  spent  the  night  but  one  before 
the  destruction  of  the  tea  as  one  of  the  guard  detached 
from  the  new  grenadier  corps,  in  company  with  Gen.  Knox, 
then  one  of  its  officers,  on  board  one  of  the  tea  ships.  He 
heard  John  Rowe  suggest  to  the  meeting  in  the  Old  South, 
"  Who  knows  how  tea  will  mingle  with  salt  water  ? "  a  sug- 
gestion received  with  great  applause.  He  further  states 
that  when  the  answer  of  the  governor  was  reported  to  the 
meeting  — 

"  An  Indian  yell  was  heard  from  the  street.  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  cried  out 
that  it  was  a  trick  of  their  enemies  to  disturb  the  meeting,  and  requested  the 
people  to  keep  their  places,  but  the  people  rushed  out  and  accompanied  the 


INTRODUCTION.  LXXI 

Indians  to  the  ships.  The  number  of  persons  disguised  as  Indians  is  variously 
stated, — none  put  it  lower  than  sixty,  nor  higher  than  eighty.  The  destruction 
was  effected  by  them,  and  some  young  men  who  volunteered.  One  of  the  latter 
collected  the  tea  which  fell  into  the  shoes  of  himself  and  companions,  and  put 
it  in  a  phial  and  sealed  it  up,  —  now  in  his  possession.  .  .  .  The  hall  of 
council  is  said  to  have  been  in  the  back  room  of  Edes'  printing-office,  at  the 
corner  of  the  alley  leading  to  Brattle  Street  Church,  from  Court  Street." 

In  1827,  Joshua  Wyeth,  of  Cincinnati,  related  the  follow- 
ing particulars  of  the  affair  to  Rev.  Timothy  Flint.  Wyeth, 
then  sixteen  years  old,  was  a  journeyman  blacksmith  in  the 
employ  of  Watson  and  Gridley.  He  says  : 

'•  Our  numbers  were  between  twenty-eight  and  thirty.  Of  my  associates  I  only 
remember  the  names  of  Frothingham,  Mead,  Martin  and  Grant.  Many  of  them 
were  apprentices  and  journeymen,  not  a  few,  as  was  the  case  with  myself,  living 
with  Tory  masters.  I  had  but  a  few  hours  warning  of  what  was  intended  to  be 
done.  We  first  talked  of  firing  the  ships,  but  feared  the  fire  would  communicate 
to  the  town.  We  then  proposed  sinking  them,  but  dropped  that  project  through 
fear  that  we  should  alarm  the  town  before  we  could  get  through  with  it.  We 
had  observed  that  very  few  persons  remained  on  board  the  ships,  and  we  finally 
concluded  that  we  could  take  possession  of  them,  and  discharge  the  tea  into  the 
harbor  without  danger  or  opposition.  One  of  the  ships  laid  at  the  wharf,  the 
others  a  little  way  out  in  the  stream,  with  their  warps  made  fast  to  the  wharf. 
To  prevent  discovery,  we  agreed  to  wear  ragged  clothes  and  disfigure  ourselves, 
dressing  to  resemble  Indians  as  much  as  possible,  smearing  our  faces  with  grease 
and  lamp  black  or  soot,  and  should  not  have  known  each  other  except  by  our 
voices.  Our  most  intimate  friends  among  the  spectators  had  not  the  least  knowl- 
edge of  us.  We  surely  resembled  devils  from  the  bottomless  pit  rather  than 
men.  At  the  appointed  time  we  met  in  an  old  building  at  the  head  of  the 
wharf,  and  fell  in  one  after  another,  as  if  by  accident,  so  as  not  to  excite  sus- 
picion. We  placed  a  sentry  at  the  head  of  the  wharf,  another  in  the  middle,  and 
one  on  the  bow  of  each  ship  as  we  took  possession.  We  boarded  the  ship 
moored  by  the  wharf,  and  our  leader,  in  a  very  stern  and  resolute  manner,  ordered 
the  captain  and  crew  to  open  the  hatchways,  and  hand  us  the  hoisting  tackle  and 
ropes,  assuring  them  that  no  harm  was  intended  them.  The  captain  asked  what 
we  intended  to  do.  Our  leader  told  him  that  we  were  going  to  unload  the  tea, 
and  ordered  him  and  the  crew  below.  They  instantly  obeyed.  Some  of  our 
number  then  jumped  into  the  hold,  and  passed  the  chests  to  the  tackle.  As  they 
were  hauled  on  deck  others  knocked  them  open  with  axes,  and  others  raised  them 
to  the  railing  and  discharged  their  contents  overboard.  All  who  were  not  needed 


LXXII  INTRODUCTION. 

for  discharging  this  ship  went  on  board  the  others,  warped  them  to  the  wharf, 
when  the  same  ceremonies  were  repeated.  We  were  merry,  in  an  undertone,  at 
the  idea  of  making  so  large  a  cup  of  tea  for  the  fishes,  but  were  as  still  as  the 
nature  of  the  case  would  admit,  using  no  more  words  than  were  absolutely  neces- 
sary. We  stirred  briskly  in  the  business  from  the  moment  we  left  our  dressino-- 
room.  I  never  worked  harder  in  my  life.  While  we  were  unloading,  the  people 
collected  in  great  numbers  about  the  wharf  to  see  what  was  going  on.  They 
crowded  around  us  so  as  to  be  much  in  our  way.  Our  sentries  were  not  armed, 
and  could  not  stop  any  who  insisted  on  passing.  They  were  particularly  charged 
to  give  us  notice  in  case  any  known  Tory  came  down  to  the  wharf.  There  was 
much  talk  about  .this  business  next  morning.  We  pretended  to  be  as  zealous  to 
find  out  the  perpetrators  as  the  rest,  and  were  all  so  close  and  loyal,  that  the 
whole  affair  remained  in  Egyptian  darkness." 


In  1835,  a  small  volume  appeared,  entitled  "  Traits  of  the 
Tea  Party,"  with  a  memoir  of  G.  R.  T.  Hewes.  From  it 
we  glean  the  following  incidents. 

Mr.  Hewes  thinks  that  among  the  speakers  at  the  meet- 
ing on  the  afternoon  of  December  16,  was  John  Hancock, 
who  said  that  "  the  matter  must  be  settled  before  twelve 
o'clock  that  night."  Hewes  positively  affirms  that  he  recog- 
nized Hancock,  who  worked  by  his  side  in  the  destruction 
of  the  tea,  not  only  by  his  ruffles,  which  were  accidentally 
exposed,  and  by  his  figure  and  gait,  but  by  his  voice  and 
features,  notwithstanding  his  paint,  and  the  loosened  club  of 
hair  behind.  In  this  he  was  undoubtedly  mistaken.  Neither 
Hancock,  Adams  nor  Warren  were  among  the  disguised 
Indians.  There  were  enough  who  were  competent  for  the 
business  without  them. 

Just  before  the  meeting  dissolved,  some  one  in  the  gal- 
leries (Mr.  Pierce  thinks  it  was  Adam  Collson)  cried  out 
with  a  loud  voice,  "  Boston  harbor  a  tea-pot  to-night !  Hur- 
rah for  Griffin's  wharf ! "  This  is  probably  the  disorder 
checked  by  the  chairman,  and  which  was  in  response  to  the 


INTRODUCTION.  i.xxm 

war-whoops  outside.  Three  cheers  were  given  by  the  meet- 
ing as  it  broke  up. 

The  disguise  of  the  Indians  was  hastily  prepared.  Many 
of  them  arrayed  themselves  in  a  store  on  Fort  Hill.  The 
original  number  of  one  of  the  parties  was  fifteen  or  twenty. 
Many  others  joined  in  the  act  of  breaking  up  the  boxes, 
who  disguised  themselves  as  best  they  could,  and  some, 
chiefly  extempore  volunteers,  were  not  disguised  at  all. 
Hewes  himself,  while  the  crowd  rushed  down  Milk  Street, 
made  his  way  to  a  blacksmith's  shop,  on  Boylston's  wharf, 
where  he  hastily  begrimmed  his  face  with  a  soot-able  prepa- 
ration, thence  to  the  house  of  an  acquaintance  near  Griffin's, 
where  he  got  a  blanket,  which  he  wrapped  around  his  person. 

When  he  reached  the  wharf,  there  were  many  there,  but 
no  crowd.  The  moon  shone  brightly.  From  one  hundred 
to  one  hundred  and  fifty  were  engaged.  The  whole  were 
divided  into  three  equal  divisions,  with  a  captain  and  boat- 
swain for  each.  Hewes's  whistling  talent  —  a  matter  of  public 
notoriety  —  procured  him  the  position  of  boatswain  in  the 
party,  under  Captain  Lendall  Pitts,  which  boarded  the  brig. 
Many  were  fantastically  arrayed  in  old  frocks,  red  woolen 
caps  or  gowns,  and  all  manner  of  like  habiliments. 

One  of  Pitts's  first  official  acts  was  to  send  a  message  to 
the  mate,  who  was  in  his  cabin,  for  the  use  of  a  few  lights 
and  the  brig's  keys,  so  that  as  little  damage  as  possible 
might  be  done  to  the  vessel.  The  keys  were  handed  over 
without  a  word,  and  he  also  provided  candles.  The  three 
parties  finished  their  separate  tasks  nearly  at  the  same  time, 
and  without  unnecessary  delay.  A  number  of  sailors  and 
others  had  joined  them  from  time  to  time,  and  aided  them 
in  hoisting  the  chests  from  the  hold. 


LXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

Collecting  on  the  wharf,  which  was  now  covered  with 
spectators,  a  fresh  inspection  was  instituted,  and  all  the  tea 
men  were  ordered  to  take  off  their  shoes  and  empty  them, 
which  was  supposed  to  be  done.  Pitts,  who  was  a  military 
man,  and  a  prominent  Son  of  Liberty,  was  appointed  com- 
mander-in-chief  ;  the  company  was  formed  in  rank  and  file 
by  his  directions,  with  the  aid  of  Barber,  Proctor,  and  some 
others,  and  "  shouldering  arms,"  —  such  as  they  had,  toma- 
hawks included,  —  they  marched  up  the  wharf,  to  what  is 
now  the  east  end  of  Pearl  Street,  back  into  town,  and  then 
separated  and  went  quietly  home. 

All  was  done  in  plain  sight  of  the  British  squadron,  which 
lay  less  than  a  quarter  of  a  mile  distant.  Admiral  Montagu 
witnessed  most  of  the  affair  from  a  more  convenient  point  — 
the  house  of  a  Tory,  named  Coffin,  on  Atkinson  Street,  near 
the  head  of  the  wharf.  Raising  the  window  as  they  came 
along,  he  said,  "  Well,  boys,  you  have  had  a  fine,  pleasant 
evening  for  your  Indian  caper,  hayen't  you?  But  mind, 
you  have  got  to  pay  the  fiddler  yet !  " 

•'  Oh,  never  mind ! "  shouted  Pitts,  "  never  mind,  squire  ! 
Just  come  out  here,  if  you  please,  and  we'll  settle  the  bill 
in  two  minutes."  This  caused  a  shout,  the  fife  struck  up 
a  lively  air,  the  admiral  put  the  window  down  in  a  hurry, 
and  the  company  marched  on. 

When  Hewes  reached  home  he  told  his  wife  the  story. 
"  Well,  George,"  said  she,  "  Did  you  bring  me  home  a  lot 
of  it  ? "  The  only  tea  known  to  have  been  brought  that 
night  from  the  wharf  was  in  the  shoes  of  Thomas  Melvill. 
A  sample  gathered  on  the  Dorchester  shore  by  Dr.  Thad- 
deus  M.  Harris,  is  now  preserved  in  the  cabinet  of  the 
Antiquarian  Society,  at  Worcester. 


o 


S  ajutti 
Bacteiv 


DIAGRAM     SHOWING    THE     ROUTE     TAKEN     FROM     THE     OLD     SOUTH     CHURCH 
TO     THE     WHARF.      (See   dotted  lines.) 


INTRODUCTION  LXXVII 

One  O'Connor,  an  Irishman,  formerly  a  fellow  apprentice 
with  Hewes,  attempted  to  secrete  some  of  the  tea.  Hewes 
noticed  a  suspicious  movement  of  his  hands  along  the  lining 
of  his  coat,  and  informed  Pitts.  Catching  him  by  the  skirts 
of  his  coat,  he  pulled  him  back  as  he  was  trying  to  escape, 
and  he  was  quickly  relieved  of  his  cargo,  as  well  as  the 
apparel  which  contained  it,  and  a  few  kicks  were  applied  to 
hasten  his  retreat. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  i  7th,  a  long  "windrow  of  tea, 
"  about  as  big  as  you  ever  saw  of  hay,"  was  seen  extending 
from  the  wharves  down  to  the  castle.  A  party  of  volun- 
teers soon  turned  out  in  boats,  and  stirred  it  up  in  the 
"pot"  pretty  effectually 

Those  who  undertook  to  preserve  any  of  the  poisonous 
herb  were  sharply  looked  after  by  the  patriots.  A  Boston 
paper  of  January  3,  1774,  says: 

"  Whereas,  it  was  reported  that  one  Withington,  of  Dorchester,  had  taken  up 
and  partly  disposed  of  a  chest  of  the  East  India  Company's  tea,  a  number  of  the 
Cape  or  Narragansett  Indians  went  to  the  house  of  Captain  Ebenezer  Withington, 
and  his  brother  Phillip,  last  Friday  evening,  and  thoroughly  searched  their  houses, 
without  offering  the  least  offence  to  any  one.  Finding  no  tea,  they  proceeded  to 
the  house  of  old  Mr.  Ebenezer  Withington,  at  a  place  called  Sodom,  below  Dor- 
chester Meeting  House,  where  they  found  part  of  a  half-chest,  which  had  floated, 
and  was  cast  up  on  Dorchester  Point.  This  they  seized  and  brought  to  Boston 
Common,  where  they  committed  it  to  the  flames." 

Benjamin  Simpson,  a  bricklayer's  apprentice,  says : 

"  After  the  meeting  in  the  Old  South  was  over,  there  was  a  cry  in  the  gallery 
of  '  every  man  to  his  tent.'  We  repaired  to  the  wharf.  I  went  on  board  both 
ships,  but  saw  no  person  belonging  to  them.  In  a  few  minutes  a  number  of 
men  came  on  the  wharf,  (with  the  Indian  pow-wow,)  went  on  board  the  ships, 
then  lying  at  the  side  of  the  wharf,  the  water  in  the  dock  not  more  than  two 
feet  deep.  They  began  to  throw  the  tea  into  the  water,  which  went  off  with  the 


LXXVIII  INTRODUCTION. 

tide  till  the  tea  grounded.  We  soon  found  there  was  tea  on  board  the  brig  also. 
A  demand  being  made  of  it,  the  captain  told  us  the  whole  of  his  cargo  was  on 
board  ;  that  the  tea  was  directly  under  the  hatches,  which  he  would  open  if  we 
would  not  damage  anything  but  the  tea,  which  was  agreed  to.  The  hatches 
were  then  opened,  a  man  sent  down  to  show  us  the  tea,  which  we  hoisted  out, 
stove  the  chests  and  threw  tea  and  all  overboard.  Those  on  board  the  ships 
did  the  same.  I  was  on  board  the  ships  when  the  tea  was  so  high  by  the  side 
of  them  as  to  fall  in,  which  was  shovelled  down  more  than  once.  We  on  board 
the  brig  were  not  disguised.  I  was  then  nineteen  years  old;  I  am  now  (1830) 
seventy-five." 

Peter,  the  son  of  Benjamin  Edes,  the  printer,  in  a  letter 
to  his  grandson,  Benjamin  C.  Edes,  written  in  1836,  says  of 
the  tea  party : 

"  I  know  but  little  about  it,  as  I  was  not  admitted  into  their  presence,  for 
fear,  I  suppose,  of  their  being  known.  ...  I  recollect  perfectly  well  that  in 
the  afternoon  preceding  the  evening  of  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  a  number  of  gen- 
tlemen met  in  the  parlor  of  my  father's  house,  —  how  many  I  cannot  say.  As  I 
said  before,  I  was  not  admitted  into  their  presence ;  my  station  was  in  another 
room,  to  make  punch  for  them,  in  the  bowl l  which  is  now  in  your  possession,  and 
which  I  filled  several  times.  They  remained  in  the  house  till  dark,  —  I  suppose 
to  disguise  themselves  like  Indians,  —  when  they  left  the  house,  and  proceeded  to 
the  wharves  where  the  vessels  lay.  Before  they  reached  there  they  were  joined 
by  hundreds.  I  thought  I  would  take  a  walk  to  the  wharves  as  a  spectator, 
where  was  collected,  I  may  say,  as  many  as  two  thousand  persons.  The  Indians 
worked  smartly.  Some  were  in  the  hold  immediately  after  the  hatches  were 
broken  open,  fixing  the  ropes  to  the  tea-chests,  others  were  breaking  open  the 
chests,  and  others  stood  ready  with  hatchets  to  cut  off  the  bindings  of  the  chests 
and  cast  them  overboard.  I  remained  till  I  was  tired,  and  fearing  some  disturb- 
ance might  o<?cur,  went  home,  leaving  the  Indians  working  like  good,  industrious 
fellows.  This  is  all  I  know  about  it." 

The  account  given  by  General  Ebenezer  Stevens  to  his 
son,  Horatio  Gates  Stevens,  is  as  follows : 

"  I  went  from  the  Old  South  Meeting  House  just  after  dark.  The  party  was 
about  seventy  or  eighty.  At  the  head  of  the  wharf  we  met  the  detachment  of 

1  This  punch  bowl  is  now  in  the  possession  of  the  Massachusetts  Historical  Society. 


INTRODUCTION. 


LXXIX 


our  company  (Paddock's  Artillery)  on  guard,  who  joined  us.  I  commenced  with 
a  party  on  board  the  vessel  of  which  Hodgdon  J  was  mate,  (the  '  Dartmouth')  and 
as  he  knew  me,  I  left  that  vessel  with  some  of  my  comrades  and  went  aboard 
another  vessel,  which  lay  at  the  opposite  side  of  the  wharf.  Numbers  of  others 
took  our  places  on  board  Hodgdon's  vessel.  We  commenced  handing  the  boxes 
of  tea  on  deck,  and  first  began  breaking  them  with  axes,  but  found  much  diffi- 
culty, owing  to  the  boxes  of  tea  being  covered  with  canvas,  —  the  mode  that 
the  article  was  then  imported  in.  I  think  that  all  the  tea  was  destroyed  in  about 
two  hours.  We  were  careful  to  prevent  any  being  taken  away.  None  of  the 
party  were  painted  as  Indians,  nor,  that  I  know  of,  disguised,  excepting  that 
some  of  them  stopped  at  a  paint  shop  on  the  way,  and  daubed  their  faces  with 
paint." 

Robert  Sessions,  of  South  Wilbraham,  (now  Hampden) 
Mass.,  another  actor  in  the  scene,  says: 

"  I  was  living  in  Boston  at  the  time,  in  the  family  of  a  Mr.  Davis,  a  lumber 
merchant,  as  a  common  laborer.  On  that  eventful  evening,  when  Mr.  Davis 
came  in  from  the  town  meeting,  I  asked  him  what  was  to  be  done  with  the  tea. 
'They  are  now  throwing  it  overboard,'  he  replied.  Receiving  permission,  I  went 
immediately  to  the  spot.  Everything  was  as  light  as  day,  by  the  means  of  lamps 
and  torches  ;  a  pin  might  be  seen  lying  on  the  wharf.  I  went  on  board  where 
they  were  at  work,  and  took  hold  with  my  own  hands.  I  was  not  one  of  those 
appointed  to  destroy  the  tea,  and  who  disguised  themselves  as  Indians,  but  was 
a  volunteer  ;  the  disguised  men  being  largely  men  of  family  and  position  in 
Boston,  while  I  was  a  young  man,  whose  home  and  relations  were  in  Connecticut. 
The  appointed  and  disguised  party  proving  too  small  for  the  quick  work  neces- 
sary, other  young  men,  similarly  circumstanced  with  myself,  joined  them  in  their 
labors.  The  chests  were  drawn  up  by  a  tackle,  —  one  man  bringing  them  forward, 
another  putting  a  rope  around  them,  and  others  hoisting  them  to  the  deck  and 


1  Alexander  Hodgdon,  mate  of  the 
"  Dartmouth,"  was  subsequently  (1787-92) 
Treasurer  of  the  State  of  Massachusetts, 
Stevens  was  at  that  time  courting  his 


sister  (they  were  afterwards  married), 
and  was  naturally  desirous  not  to  corn- 
promise  himself  or  his  friend. 


LXXX  INTRODUCTION. 

carrying  them  to  the  vessel's  side.  The  chests  were  then  opened,  the  tea 
emptied  over  the  side,  and  the  chests  thrown  overboard.  Perfect  regularity  pre- 
vailed during  the  whole  transaction.  Although  there  were  many  people  on  the 
wharf,  entire  silence  prevailed,  —  no  clamor,  no  talking.  Nothing  was  meddled 
with  but  the  teas  on  board.  After  having  emptied  the  whole,  the  deck  was  swept 
clean,  and  everything  put  in  its  proper  place.  An  officer  on  board  was  requested 
to  come  up  from  the  cabin  and  see  that  no  damage  was  done  except  to  the  tea. 
At  about  the  close  of  the  scene,  a  man  was  discovered  making  his  way  through 
the  crowd  with  his  pockets  rilled  with  tea.  He  was  immediately  laid  hold  of,  and 
his  coat  skirts  torn  off,  with  their  pockets,  and  thrown  into  the  dock  with  the 
rest  of  the  tea.  I  was  obliged  to  leave  the  town  at  once,  as  it  was  of  course 
known  that  I  was  concerned  in  the  affair." 

William  Tudor,  then  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  John 
Adams,  and  acquainted  with  some  of  the  members  of  the 
tea  party,  gives  in  his  "  Life  of  James  Otis,"  the  following 
account  of  it : 

"  A  band  of  eighteen  or  twenty  young  men  (no  one  of  whom  was  in  any  dis- 
guise), who  had  been  prepared  for  the  event,  went  by  the  Meeting  House  giving 
a  shout.  It  was  echoed  by  some  within ;  others  exclaimed,  '  the  Mohawks  are 
come ! ; '  the  assembly  broke  up  and  a  part  of  it  followed  this  body  of  young 
men  to  Griffin's  wharf.  Three  different  parties,  composed  of  trust-worthy  persons, 
many  of  whom  were  in  after  life  among  the  most  respectable  citizens  of  the  town, 
had  been  prepared,  in  conformity  to  the  secret  resolves  of  the  political  leaders, 
to  act  as  circumstances  should  require.  They  were  seventy  or  eighty  in  all,  and 
when  every  attempt  to  have  the  tea  returned  had  failed,  it  was  immediately  made 
known  to  them,  and  they  proceeded  at  once  to  throw  the  obnoxious  merchandise 
into  the  water.  One,  if  not  two  of  these  parties,  wore  a  kind  of  Indian  disguise. 
Two  of  these  persons,  in  passing  over  Fort  Hill  to  the  scene  of  operations,  met 
a  British  officer  who,  on  observing  them,  naturally  enough  drew  his  sword.  As 
they  approached,  one  of  the  Indians  drew  a  pistol,  and  said  to  the  officer,  '  The 
path  is  wide  enough  for  us  all;  we  have  nothing  to  do  with  you,  and  intend  you 
no  harm ;  if  you  keep  your  own  way  peaceably,  we  shall  keep  ours." 

Henry  Purkitt,  Samuel  Sprague  and  John  Hooten,  (all 
living  in  1835,)  were  apprentices  of  about  the  same  age. 
Purkitt  and  Dolbear  were  apprentices  with  Peck,  the  cooper, 
in  Essex  Street.  While  at  their  work  they  heard  a  loud 


INTRODUCTION.  LXXXI 

whistle,  which  startled  them,  and  which  they  followed  till  it 
brought  them  to  the  wharf.  Their  part  of  the  play  was  on 
the  flats,  by  the  side  of  one  of  the  vessels,  —  for  it  was 
nearly  low  tide,  —  and  with  other  boys,  by  direction  of  the 
commander,  to  break  up  more  thoroughly  the  fragments  of 
chests  and  masses  of  tea  thrown  over  in  too  great  haste. 
They  found  their  return  upon  deck  much  facilitated  by  the 
immense  pile  which  had  accumulated  beneath  and  around 
them.  The  commander  acted  as  an  interpreter  for  those 
persons,  —  apparently  five  or  six  aboard  each  vessel,  —  who 
especially  assumed  the  Indian  guise.  These  were  no  doubt 
among  the  principal  directors  of  the  whole  affair.  They 
affected  to  issue  their  orders  from  time  to  time  in  an  Indian 
jargon,  the  interpreter  communicating  what  the  chiefs  said ; 
attended  to  the  procuring  of  keys  and  lights,  the  raising  of 
the  derricks,  trampling  the  tea  into  the  mud,  sweeping  the 
decks  at  the  close  of  the  scene,  calling  up  the  mate  to 
report  whether  everything  (except,  of  course,  the  tea)  was  left 
as  they  found  it,  etc. 

Purkitt  and  Dolbear  went  home  early.  Peck,  who  was 
believed  to  be  one  of  the  chiefs,  came  in  rather  softly,  at 
one  o'clock  in  the  morning.  The  boys  noticed  some  indi- 
cations of  red  paint  behind  his  ears,  next  day.  The  only 
tools  they  used  were  staves,  which  they  made  before  starting. 

David  Kinnison,  the  last  survivor  of  the  tea  party,  died 
at  Chicago  in  1852,  at  the  great  age  of  one  hundred  and 
fifteen.  He  was  one  of  seventeen  inhabitants  of  Lebanon, 
Maine,  who  had  associated  themselves  together  as  a  political 
club,  and  who  had  determined,  at  all  hazards,  to  destroy  the 
tea,  whether  assisted  or  not.  Some  of  them  repairing  to  Bos- 


LXXXII  INTRODUCTION. 

ton,  joined  the  party,  and  twenty-four,  disguised  as  Indians, 
hastened  on  board  the  ships,  twelve  armed  with  muskets  and 
bayonets,  the  rest  with  tomahawks  and  clubs.  They  expected 
to  have  a  fight,  not  doubting  that  an  effort  would  be  made 
for  their  arrest,  and  agreed  at  the  outset  to  stand  by  each 
other  to  the  last.  They  also  pledged  themselves  not  to  re- 
veal the  names  of  the  party.  Owing  to  the  great  age  of 
Kinnison,  when  this  relation  was  made  to  Mr.  Lossing,  it  is 
possibly  in  some  particulars  erroneous,  and  is  given  only  as 
a  piece  of  original  evidence,  and  simply  for  what  it  is  worth. 

With  a  British  squadron  and  British  troops  so  near  at 
hand,  it  seems  strange  that  the  party  was  not  interrupted. 
The  probable  reason  is,  that  something  far  more  serious 
was  expected  on  any  attempt  to  land  the  tea,  and  that  the 
authorities,  the  owners  of  the  ships,  the  consignees  of  the  tea, 
and  all  others  concerned,  were  glad  to  be  thus  extricated  from 
a  serious  dilemma.  They,  however,  could  not  be  called  upon 
to  interfere,  except  by  the  civil  authorities,  in  case  of  a  riot. 

Governor  Hutchinson  says  "  the  tea  could  have  been 
secured  in  the  town  in  no  other  way  than  by  landing 
marines  from  the  men-of-war,  or  bringing  to  town  the  regi- 
ment which  was  at  the  castle,  to  remove  the  guards  from 
the  ships  and  to  take  their  places."  This  would  have  brought 
on  a  greater  convulsion  than  there  was  any  danger  of  in  1770, 
and  it  would  not  have  been  possible,  when  two  regiments  were 
forced  out  of  the  town,  for  so  small  a  body  of  troops  to  have 
kept  possession  of  the  place.  He  did  not  suppose  such  a 
measure  would  be  approved  of  in  England,  nor  was  he  sure 
of  support  from  any  one  person  in  authority.  There  was 
not  a  justice  of  peace,  sheriff,  constable  or  peace  officer  in 
the  province  who  would  venture  to  take  cognizance  of  any 


INTRODUCTION  LXXXIII 

breach  of  law  against  the  general  bent  of  the  people.  So 
many  of  the  actors  were  universally  known  that  a  proclama- 
tion, with  a  reward  for  discovery,  would  have  been  ridiculed. 
Hutchinson  submitted  the  consideration  of  the  affair  to  the 
council,  and  that  body  promised  to  give  it  attention,  but 
nothing  came  of  it.  "  Of  the  thousands  concerned  in  the 
transaction,"  wrote  General  Gage  to  the  historian  Chalmers, 
"  or  who  were  spectators  of  it,  only  one  witness  could  be 
procured  to  give  testimony  against  them,  and  that  one  con- 
ditionally that  the  delinquents  should  be  tried  in  England." 
So  far  as  is  known,  only  a  single  person  was  arrested,  —  a 
Mr.  Eckley,  and  he  was  never  brought  to  trial. 

A  fourth  tea-ship,  destined  for  Boston,  was  wrecked  on 
Cape  Cod.  The  few  chests  of  tea  saved  from  her  cargo 
were,  by  the  governor's  order,  placed  in  the  castle.  Twenty- 
eight  chests,  brought  a  little  later  by  another  vessel  from 
London,  on  the  joint  account  of  Boston  merchants,  were 
destroyed  by  a  disguised  party,  on  March  7,  1774.  The 
people  of  Charlestown  destroyed,  in  the  market  place,  all  the 
tea  they  could  find  in  the  town,  paying  the  owners  its  value. 
Other  towns  did  the  same. 

An  account  of  the  transaction,  drawn  up  by  the  Boston 
committee,  was  carried  by  Paul  Revere,  to  New  York  and 
Philadelphia.  When  the  news  reached  New  York,  vast 
numbers  of  the  people  collected.  They  were  in  high  spirits, 
one  and  all  declaring  that  the  ships  with  tea  on  board, 
designed  for  that  port,  should  on  arrival  be  sent  back,  or 
the  tea  destroyed.  They  highly  extolled  the  Bostonians 
for  what  the  people  had  done,  and  immediately  forwarded 
the  news  to  Philadelphia.  When  Revere,  on  his  return, 
brought  word  that  Governor  Tryon  had  engaged  to  send 


LXXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

the  New  York   tea-ships    back,  all  the   bells   in  Boston   were 
rung  next  morning. 

Extract  from  a  letter  to  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  in  New  York, 
dated  Boston,  December  17,  1773: 

"  The  bearer  is  chosen  by  the  committee  from  a  number  of  gentlemen,  who 
volunteered  to  carry  you  this  intelligence.  We  are  in  a  perfect  jubilee.  Not  a 
Tory  in  the  whole  community  can  find  the  least  fault  with  our  proceedings.  .  .  . 
The  spirit  of  the  people  throughout  the  country  is  to  be  described  by  no  terms 
in  my  power.  Their  conduct  last  night  surprised  the  admiral  and  English  gentle- 
men, who  observed  that  these  were  not  a  mob  of  disorderly  rabble,  (as  they  have 
been  reported,)  but  men  of  sense,  coolness  and  intrepidity." 

The  tea  shipped  to  South  Carolina  (two  hundred  and 
fifty-seven  chests)  arrived  on  the  second  of  December.  So 
strenuous  was  the  opposition  to  its  being  landed,  that  the 
consignees  were  persuaded  to  resign.  Though  the  collector, 
after  the  twentieth  day,  seized  the  dutiable  article,  as  no 
one  would  sell  it  or  pay  the  duty,  it  perished  in  the  damp 
cellars  where  it  was  stored. 

On  December  25,  news  reached  Philadelphia  that  its  tea- 
ship  was  at  Chester.  The  Delaware  pilots  had  been  warned, 
by  printed  handbills,  not  to  conduct  any  tea-ships  into  the 
harbor,  as  they  were  only  sent  for  the  purpose  of  enslaving 
and  poisoning  the  Americans.  Four  miles  below  the  town 
it  came  to  anchor.  On  the  27th,  news  of  what  had  occurred 
in  Boston  having  arrived,  five,  thousand  men  collected  in 
town  meeting  at  an  hour's  notice.  At  their  suggestion,  the 
consignee,  who  came  as  passenger,  resigned,  and  the  captain 
agreed  to  take  his  ship  and  cargo  back  to  London  the  very 
next  day. 

The  ship  "  Nancy,"  Captain  Lockyer,  destined  for  New 
York,  having  been  blown  off  the  coast,  refitted  at  Antigua, 
and  proceeding  thence  to  New  York,  arrived  there  April  18, 


INTRODUCTION.  LXXXY 

1774.  Some  of  the  committee  went  on  board  and  prevented 
her  coming  up  to  the  city,  but  the  captain  was  allowed  to 
procure  some  necessary  stores,  and  then,  by  the  advice  of 
the  consignees,  returned  to  London  without  breaking  bulk. 
A  quantity  of  tea  —  private  property  —  was  imported  from 
London,  and  an  application  from  the  consignee  to  have  it 
returned  to  England  was  refused  by  the  custom-house  officers. 
A  number  of  "  Mohawks "  then  took  charge  of  the  business, 
and  emptied  the  whole  of  it  into  the  sea. 

A  few  days  later,  Captain  Chambers,  master  of  the  ship 
"  London,"  trading  to  New  York,  who  had  on  a  former 
occasion  received  the  thanks  of  her  citizens  for  refusing 
to  bring  the  East  India  Company's  tea,  was  detected  in 
introducing  eighteen  boxes  of  fine  tea,  curiously  concealed 
between  blankets,  etc.,  which  he  intended  to  smuggle,  but 
the  people  having  discovered  it,  immediately  threw  it  into 
the  sea,  and  the  captain,  to  escape  the  wrath  of  the  people, 
took  refuge  in  Captain  Lockyer's  vessel,  and  sailed  for 
England. 

Opposition  to  the  obnoxious  tea  duty  had  by  no  means 
subsided,  when,  in  October,  1774,  the  brigantine  "Peggy 
Stewart "  approached  Annapolis,  Maryland,  with  a  cargo  of 
tea  on  board.  At  once  there  was  a  great  commotion. 
Terror  seized  the  owners.  They  applied  to  Charles  Carroll 
for  advice.  He  told  them  there  was  but  one  way  to  save 
their  persons  and  property  from  swift  destruction,  and  that 
was  to  burn  their  vessel  and  cargo  instantly,  and  in  sight  of 
the  people.  It  was  done,  and  the  flames  did  for  Annapolis 
what  the  "  Mohawks "  had  done  for  Boston. 

"  This,"  said  Hutchinson,  referring  to  the  action  of  Boston, 


LXXXVI  INTRODUCTION. 

"was  the  boldest  stroke  that  had  been  struck  in  America." 
Writing  to  Sir  Francis  Bernard,  he  spoke  of  it  as  "  an 
unfortunate  event,  and  what  every  body  supposed  impossible 
after  so  many  men  of  property  had  made  part  of  the  meet- 
ings, and  were  in  danger  of  being  liable  for  the  value  of  it. 
It  would  have  given  me  a  much  more  painful  reflection,"  he 
continued,  "  if  I  had  saved  it  by  any  concession  to  a  lawless 
and  highly  criminal  assembly  of  men,  to  whose  proceedings 
the  loss  must  be  consequently  attributed,  and  the  probability 
is  that  it  was  a  part  of  their  plan  from  the  beginning." 

"  We  do  console  ourselves,"  wrote  John  Scollay,  chairman 
of  the  Selectmen  of  Boston,  and  prominent  in  the  affair, 
"  that  we  have  acted  constitutionally." 

"  The  most  magnificent  movement  of  all,"  wrote  John 
Adams  in  his  diary.  "  There  is  a  dignity,  a  majesty,  a 
solemnity  in  this  last  effort  of  the  patriots  that  I  greatly 
admire.  This  destruction  of  the  tea  is  so  bold,  so  daring, 
so  firm,  so  intrepid  and  inflexible,  and  it  must  have  so 
important  consequences,  and  so  lasting,  that  I  cannot  but 
consider  it  as  an  epoch  in  history.  The  question  is  whether 
the  destruction  of  the  tea  was  necessary  ?  I  apprehend  it 
was  absolutely  and  indispensably  so.  ...  To  let  it  be 
landed  would  be  giving  up  the  principle  of  taxation  by 
Parliamentary  authority,  against  which  the  continent  has 
struggled  for  ten  years.  .  .  .  But,  it  will  be  said,  it  might 
have  been  left  in  the  care  of  a  committee  of  the  town,  or 
in  Castle  William.  To  this  many  objections  may  be  urged." 

The  historian  Ramsay  says :  "  If  the  American  position 
was  right  in  relation  to  taxation,  the  destruction  of  the  tea 
was  warranted  by  the  great  law  of  self-preservation.  For 
it  was  not  possible  for  them  by  any  other  means  within 


INTRODUCTION.  LXXXVII 

the  compass  of   probability  to  discharge  the  duty  they  owed 
to  their  country." 

"  I  cannot  but  express  my  admiration  of  the  conduct  of 
this  people,"  writes  an  '  Impartial  Observer'  in  the  "  Boston 
Evening  Post"  of  December  20,  1773.  .  .  .  "I  shall 
return  home  doubly  fortified  in  my  resolution  to  prevent 
that  deprecated  calamity,  the  landing  the  tea  in  Rhode 
Island,  and  console  myself  with  the  happier  assurance  that 
my  brethren  have  not  less  resolution  than  their  neighbors." 

"  It  became,"  says  Hon.  Robert  C.  Winthrop,  "  a  simple 
question,  which  should  go  under,  British  tea  or  American 
liberty  ?  That  volunteer  band  of  Liberty  Boys  performed 
their  work  '  better  than  they  knew,'  averting  contingencies 
which  must  have  caused  immediate  bloodshed,  and  ac- 
complishing results  of  the  greatest  importance  to  the  Ameri- 
can cause." 

Wm.  C.  Rives,  in  his  Life  of  James  Madison,  says :  "  This 
memorable  occurrence  was  undoubtedly,  in  the  immediate 
sequence  of  the  events  which  it  produced,  the  proximate 
cause  of  the  American  Revolution." 

A  Tory  pamphleteer  of  the  time  gives  us  the  Loyalist  view 
of  the  affair.  He  says  :  "  Now  the  crime  of  the  Bostonians 
was  a  compound  of  the  grossest  injury  and  insult.  It  was 
an  act  of  the  highest  insolence  towards  government,  such  as 
mildness  itself  cannot  overlook  or  forgive.  The  injustice  of 
the  deed  was  also  most  atrocious,  as  it  was  the  destruction 
of  property  to  a  vast  amount,  when  it  was  known  that  the 
nation  was  obliged  in  honor  to  protect  it." 

We    subjoin    some    of    the    comments    of    candid    British 
writers    respecting     the     affair.       Mr.     Massey    says :     "  The 
question    of    taxation    was    virtually    settled    by    this    signal 
ii 


LXXXVIII  INTRODUCTION. 

failure  to  enforce  the  law,  or  rather  by  the  absence  of  any 
attempt  to  protect  the  property  of  merchants  who  had  made 
their  ventures  by  the  express  authority,  if  not  at  the  instance 
of  the  British  government." 

While  speaking  of  the  destruction  of  the  tea  as  the  "  crown- 
ing outrage,"  Lecky  says,  "  It  will  probably  strike  the  reader 
that  every  argument  which  shewed  that  the  tea  duty  was 
not  a  grievance,  was  equally  powerful  to  show  that  it  was 
perfectly  useless  as  a  means  of  obtaining  a  revenue.  It 
would  be  difficult  indeed  to  find  a  more  curious  instance  of 
legislative  incapacity  than  the  whole  transaction  displayed." 

Hear  Carlyle:   • 

"Thursday,  December  16,  1773.  What  a  contention  is  going  on  far  over  seas 
at  Boston,  New  England.  The  case  is  well  known  and  still  memorable  to  man- 
kind. British  parliament,  after  nine  years  of  the  saddest  haggling,  and  baffling 
to  and  fro  under  constitutional  stress  of  weather,  and  such  east  winds  and  west 
winds  of  parliamentary  eloquence  as  seldom  were,  has  made  up  its  mind  that 
America  shall  pay  duty  on  their  teas  before  infusing  them,  and  America,  Boston 
more  especially,  is  tacitly  determined  that  it  will  not,  and  that  to  avoid  mistakes 
the  teas  shall  never  be  landed  at  all.  .  .  . 

"  Rotch's  report  done,  the  chairman  (an  Adams  '  American  Cato,'  subsequently 
so  called,)  dissolves  the  sorrowful  seven  thousand,  with  these  words,  '  The  meet- 
ing declares  it  can  do  nothing  more  to  save  the  country,"  we  '11  naturally  go  home 
then  and  weep.  Hark  however !  almost  on  the  instant,  in  front  of  the  Old  South 
Meeting  House,  a  terrific  war-whoop,  and  about  fifty  Mohawk  Indians,  with  whom 
Adams  seems  to  be  acquainted,  and  speaks  without  interpreter :  Aha  ! 

"  And  sure  enough,  before  the  stroke  of  seven  these  fifty  painted  Mohawks 
are  forward  without  noise  to  Griffin's  wharf,  have  put  sentries  all  round  them, 
and  in  a  great  silence  of  the  neighborhood,  are  busy  in  three  gangs  upon  the 
dormant  tea  ships,  opening  their  chests  and  punctually  shaking  them  out  into  the 
sea.  Listening  from  the  distance  you  could  hear  distinctly  the  ripping  open  of 
the  chests  and  no  other  sound.  About  ten  p.  M.  all  was  finished,  .  .  .  the 
Mohawks  gone  like  a  dream,  and  Boston  sleeping  more  silently  even  than  usual." 

In  England,  the  news  of  the  destruction  of  the  tea  at 
Boston  was  received  with  astonishment,  not  unmixed  with 
anger.  Men  of  all  parties  were  swept  into  the  hostile 


INTRODUCTION.  LXXXIX 

current.  Coercive  measures  were  at  once  brought  forward  in 
parliament.  In  the  debates  that  ensued,  a  member  said, 
"  The  town  of  Boston  ought  to  be  knocked  about  their  ears 
and  destroyed."  Moderate  and  judicious  men  made  a  gallant 
stand  against  the  bill  shutting  up  the  port  of  Boston,  but 
the  current  was  irresistible,  and  the  measure,  with  others  of 
like  character,  passed  by  overwhelming  votes.  Burke,  on 
the  question  of  the  repeal  of  the  tea  tax,  made  one  of  his 
noblest  efforts.  Colonel  Barre  told  the  House  that  if  they 
would  keep  their  hands  out  of  the  pockets  of  the  Americans 
they  would  be  obedient  subjects.  Johnstone,  formerly 
governor  of  Florida,  who  had  before  predicted  to  the  East 
India  Company,  that  exporting  tea  on  their  own  account 
was  absurd  and  would  end  in  loss,  now  predicted  that  the 
Port  Bill  would,  if  passed,  be  productive  of  a  general  con- 
federacy to  resist  the  power  of  Britain,  and  end  in  a  general 
revolt.  His  utterances  were  prophetic  indeed.  These 
measures  did  unite  the  colonies,  and  produced  a  general 
revolt  ending  in  American  independence. 

Accounts  vary  greatly  as  to  the  number  and  appearance 
of  the  tea  party.  The  original  body  which  arrived  so 
opportunely  at  the  door  of  the  "  Old  South,"  and  which  may 
have  included  Molineux,  Revere,  and  the  more  prominent 
leaders,  was  probably  not  numerous.  They,  however,  had 
passed  the  word,  and  trusty  coadjutors  were  not  long  in 
following  them.  Colonel  Tudor  and  Colonel  Stevens  say 
they  were  not  disguised,  but  all  other  accounts  state  that 
they  were  in  the  Indian  dress,  or  something  resembling  it. 

The  historian,  Gordon,  places  their  number  at  seventeen, 
"  though  judged  to  be  many  more  as  they  ran  across  Fort 
Hill."  "  Our  number  was  between  twenty-eight  and  thirty," 


xc  INTRODUCTION. 

says  Wyeth,  one  of  the  party.  Hutchinson  says  about  fifty, 
and  many  have  since  adopted  his  statement.  Tudor,  in  his 
"  Life  of  Otis,"  says  seventy  or  eighty.  Colonel  Ebenezer 
Stevens  agrees  with  him.  "  None  put  the  number  lower 
than  sixty,  nor  higher  than  eighty,"  is  the  recollection  of 
"  a  Bostonian,"  fifty  years  after  the  event.  John  Andrews 
was  told  that  they  mustered  on  Fort  Hill  to  the  number  of 
about  two  hundred.  "  From  one  hundred  to  one  hundred 
and  fifty  being  more  or  less  actively  engaged"  thought 
Hewes,  one  of  the  actors.  "  Two  or  three  hundred  dressed 
like  Indians,"  wrote  Dr.  Cooper  to  Dr.  Franklin. 

These  varying  estimates  may  be  accounted  for  in  this 
way.  Those  who  report  the  smaller  number  either  repeated 
what  they  were  told,  or  saw  only  one  of  the  parties  on  its 
way  to  the  ships,  while  the  others  speak  of  the  entire  body 
after  its  separate  parts  had  united  at  the  wharf.  Some  may 
mean  only  such  of  the  party  as  were  in  Indian  dress.  If 
we  place  the  number  on  board  the  ships  at  fifty  or  sixty, 
and  estimate  those  at  work  by  the  sides  of  the  vessels 
at  sixty  or  seventy,  we  shall  probably  not  be  far  out  of  the 
way,  the  whole  number  then  aggregating  from  one  hundred 
and  ten  to  one.  hundred  and  thirty.  The  names  of  more 
than  one  hundred  of  these  have  been  preserved. 

Who  were  these  men  ?  "  Depend  upon  it,"  said  John 
Adams  to  Hezekiah  Niles  in  1819,  "These  were  no  ordi- 
nary Mohawks.  The  profound  secrecy  in  which  they  have 
held  their  names,  and  the  total  abstinence  of  plunder,  are 
proofs  of  the  character  of  the  men."  But  two  of  the  recog- 
nized leaders  of  the  people  were  there,  —  Dr.  Young  and 
Thomas  Molineux.  Most  of  them  were  mechanics  and 
apprentices,  but  they  were  mechanics  of  the  stamp  of 


I N  T  R  O  D  U  C  T I O  N .  xci 

Revere,  Howard,  Wheeler,  Crane  and  Peck,  men  who  could 
restrain  and  keep  in  due  subordination  the  more  fiery  and 
dangerous  element,  always  present  in  popular  demonstrations. 
That  element  was  not  wholly  absent  on  this  occasion,  for 
Mackintosh,  the  leader  in  the  Stamp  Act  riots,  was  present 
with  "  his  chickens,"  as  he  called  them,  and  active  in 
destroying  the  tea.  There  were  also  professional  men,  like 
Dr.  Young  and  Dr.  Story,  and  merchants,  such  as  Molineux, 
Proctor,  Melvill,  Palmer,  May,  Pitts  and  Davis,  men  of 
high  character  and  standing,  so  that  all  classes  were  fairly 
represented.  As  might  be  expected,  those  appointed  for  the 
work,  and  who  were  in  Indian  dress,  were  largely  men  of 
family  and  position  in  Boston. 

A  writer  in  the  American  Magazine  of  History  attempts 
to  discredit  the  statement  that  the  party  were  in  Indian 
dress,  intimating  that  it  was  an  afterthought,  intended  to 
deceive  the  authorities,  and  lead  them  to  the  belief  that  the 
disguise  was  too  complete  to  allow  of  identification  for  arrest 
or  punishment.  Cavils  like  this  are  superfluous  in  view  of 
the  abundant  testimony  to  the  contrary.  The  sworn  protest 
of  Captain  Bruce,  of  the  "  Eleanor,"  one  of  the  tea-ships, 
given  on  a  subsequent  page  in  this  volume,  is  of  itself 
sufficient  evidence  upon  this  point.  The  number  of  those 
who,  prepared  as  they  were,  on  the  spur  of  the  moment, 
really  bore  any  very  great  resemblance  to  Indians,  was  no 
doubt  small.  A  large  number  of  the  actors  hastily  assumed 
such  disguises  as  were  nearest  at  hand. 

No  doubt  the  principals  in  this  transaction  pledged  one 
another  to  keep  their  connection  with  it  a  profound  secret, 
and  they  did  so,  but  the  young  apprentices  and  volunteers, 
who,  without  premeditation,  joined  the  party  on  its  way  to 


xcn  INTRODUCTION. 

the  wharf,  were  under  no  such  restraint,  and  we  can  only 
wonder  that  they  made  no  revelation  concerning  an  event  of 
such  importance.  It  was  not  until  a  very  late  period 
of  their  lives  that  any  of  them  opened  their  lips  publicly 
about  it,  and  when  more  than  half  a  century  had  elapsed 
since  it  occurred. 

The  names  of  fifty-eight  of  these  men,  given  below,  are 
taken  from  Thatcher's  "  Traits  of  the  Tea  Party,"  published 
in  1835,  while  nine  or  ten  of  them  were  yet  living,  the 
source  whence  all  later  lists  have  been  derived.  Possibly 
this  list  is  identical  with  that  mentioned  as  having  once 
been  in  the  possession  of  Peter,  the  son  of  Benjamin  Edes, 
the  printer.  Of  this  list  it  is  safe  to  say  that,  while  far  from 
being  complete,  it  is  correct  as  far  as  it  goes.  The  names 
that  follow  the  list  of  1835,  have  been  gleaned  from  a  great 
variety  of  sources,  principally  family  tradition. 

"  List  of  the  tea  party,  furnished  in  1835,  by  an  aged 
Bostonian,  well  acquainted  with  the  subject,  of  the  persons 
generally  supposed,  within  his  knowledge,  to  have  been 
more  or  less  actively  engaged."  Those  starred  were  then 
living : 

*George  R.  T.  Hewes.  Nathaniel  Green. 

Joseph  Shed.  *Benj.  Simpson. 

John  Crane.  Joseph  Eayres. 

Josiah  Wheeler.  Joseph  Lee. 

Thomas  Urann.  William  Molineux. 

Adam  Collson.  Paul  Revere. 

S.  Coolidge.  John  Spurr. 

Joseph  Payson.  Thomas  Moore. 

James  Brewer.  Samuel  Howard. 

Thomas  Bolter.  Matthew  Loring. 

Edward  Proctor.  Thomas  Spear. 

Samuel  Sloper.  Daniel  Ingoldson. 

Thomas  Gerrish.  Richard  Hunnewell. 


INTRODUCTION. 


XCIII 


*John  Hooton. 
*Jonathan  Hunnewell. 

Thomas  Chase. 

Thomas  Melvill. 
*Henry  Purkitt. 

Edward  C.  Howe. 

Ebenezer  Stevens. 

Nicholas  Campbell. 

John  Russell. 

Thomas  Porter. 

William  Hendley. 

Benjamin  Rice. 

Samuel  Gore. 

Nathaniel  Frothingham. 

Moses  Grant. 
*Peter  Slater. 


James  Starr. 
Abraham  Tower. 
*William  Pierce. 
William  Russell. 
T.  Gammell. 

Mclntosh. 

Dr.  Thomas  Young. 
Joshua  Wyeth. 
Edward  Dolbear. 

Martin. 

Samuel  Peck. 
Lendall  Pitts. 

*Samuel  Sprague. 

Benjamin  Clarke. 

Richard  Hunnewell,  Jr. 
*John  Prince. 


Additional    names    of    the    tea   party,    derived    principally 
from  family  tradition : 


Nathaniel  Barber. 
Samuel  Barnard. 
Henry  Bass. 
Edward  Bates. 
Nathaniel  Bradlee. 
David  Bradlee. 
Josiah  Bradlee. 
Thomas  Bradlee. 
Seth  Ingersoll  Brown. 
Sephen  Bruce. 
Benjamin  Burton. 
George  Carleton. 
Gilbert  Colesworthy. 
John  Cochran. 
Gershom  Collier. 
James  Foster  Condy. 
Samuel  Cooper. 
Thomas  Dana,  Jr. 
Robert  Davis. 
Joseph  Eaton. 
Eckley. 


William  Etheridge. 
Samuel  Fenno. 
Samuel  Foster 
John  Fulton. 
Samuel  Hammond. 
John  Hicks. 
Samuel  Hobbs. 
Thomas  Hunstable. 
Abraham  Hunt. 
David  Kinnison. 
Amos  Lincoln. 
Thomas  Machin. 
Archibald  Macneil. 
John  May. 

Mead. 

Anthony  Morse. 
Eliphalet  Newell. 
Joseph  Pearse  Palmer. 
Jonathan  Parker. 
John  Peters. 
Samuel  Pitts. 


xciv  INTRODUCTION. 

9 

Henry  Prentiss.  John  Truman. 

John   Randall.  Isaac  Williams. 

Joseph  Roby.  David  Williams. 

Phineas  Stearns.  Jeremiah  Williams. 

Robert  Sessions.  Thomas  Williams. 

Elisha  Story.  Nathaniel  Willis. 
James  Swan. 


BIOGRAPHICAL    NOTICES 


OF    THE 


Boston    Tea    Party. 


MAJOR   NATHANIEL    BARBER, 

A  prominent  merchant  and  patriot  of  Boston,  was  one  of 
the  famous  "  Whig  Club "  of  ante-revolutionary  days,  in 
which  were  James  Otis,  Dr.  Church,  Dr.  Warren  and  other 
leaders  of  the  popular  party.  In  it  Civil  Rights  and  the 
British  Constitution  were  standing  topics  for  discussion. 
He  was  one  of  the  committee  of  correspondence,  from  its 
creation  in  1772,  and  afterwards  of  the  committee  of  safety, 
and  was  naval  officer  of  the  port  of  Boston  in  1784.  He 
joined  St.  Andrew's  Lodge  of  Freemasons  in  1780,  and 
died  at  his  house,  in  Bear  Lane,  (Richmond  Street,)  Octo- 
ber 13,  1787;  aged  59.  Before  fhe  Revolution  he  kept  an 
insurance  office  in  Fish  (now  North)  Street. 

SAMUEL    BARNARD, 

A  major  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  was  born  in  Water- 
town,  Mass.,  June  19,  1737;  died  August  8,  1782. 


xcvi  INTRODUCTION. 


HENRY    BASS, 

A  prominent  "  Son  of  Liberty,"  a  merchant  on  Orange 
Street,  residing  in  Rawson's  Lane,  (Bromfield  Street,)  died 
June  5,  1813;  aged  74.  He  was  the  first  volunteer  on 
the  roll  of  the  guard  of  the  tea-ship,  November  29,  1773. 
Drake  ("Old  Landmarks  of  Boston,")  says  Samuel  Adams 
and  Major  Melvill  often  passed  a  convivial  evening,  and 
ate  a  Sunday  dinner,  at  his  house. 


CAPTAIN    THOMAS    BOLTER, 

A  housewright,  residing  on  Nassau  (now  Tremont)  Street, 
died  in  August,  1811;  aged  76.  Mary,  his  widow,  died 
May  30,  1813;  aged  76. 

DAVID,    THOMAS,    NATHANIEL,    AND    JOSIAH 

BRADLEE, 

Were  brothers,  who  lived  in  the  house  yet  standing,  on  the 
southerly  corner  of  Hollis  and  Tremont  Streets.  Their 
sister,  Sarah,  assisted  her  husband,  John  Fulton,  and  her 
brothers,  to  disguise  themselves,  having  made  preparations 
for  the  emergency  a  day  or  two  beforehand,  and  afterwards 
followed  them  to  the  wharf,  and  saw  the  tea  thrown  into 
the  dock.  Soon  returning,  she  had  hot  water  in  readiness 


'  Owe  no  man  anything.      Be  true  to  thyself,  to  thy  country,  and  to  thy  God." 

—  C.  D.  BRADLEE,  Blackstone  Square,  Boston. 


INTRODUCTION.  xcvn 

for  them  when  they  arrived,  and  assisted  in  removing  the 
paint  from  their  faces.  As  the  story  goes,  before  they 
could  change  their  clothes,  a  British  officer  looked  in  to  see 
if  the  young  men  were  at  home,  having  a  suspicion  that 
they  were  in  the  tea  business.  He  found  them  in  bed,  and 
to  all  appearance  asleep,  they  having  slipped  into  bed  with- 
out removing  their  "  toggery,"  and  feigning  sleep.  The 
officer  departed  satisfied.  Mrs.  Fulton  helped  to  dress  the 
wounds  of  the  soldiers  who  were  in  the  battle  of  Bunker 
Hill.  She  died  in  Medford,  Mass.,  in  1836,  and  is  the 
authority  for  the  above  statement.  Of  the  brothers,  — 
David,  was  born  November  24,  1742;  died  March  10,  1811. 


Thomas,  born  December  4,   1744;    died  Oct. — ,   1805. 

Nathaniel,  born  February  16,   1746;    died  May  8,   1813. 

Josiah,  born   March  24,   1754;    died  October  2,   1798. 

The  old  house,  built  by  Nathaniel,  in  1771,  is  now  the 
residence  of  his  grandson,  Nathaniel  Bradlee  Doggett,  to 
whose  son,  Samuel  Bradlee  Doggett,  I  am  indebted  for 
the  above  facts. 

JAMES    BREWER, 

Pump  and  blockmaker,  in  Summer  Street,  died  in  April, 
1805.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  early  movements  of 
the  Revolution ;  was  one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the 
"Dartmouth,"  November  30,  1773,  and  prominent  in  the 
destruction  of  her  cargo,  and  was  also  one  of  the  young 
men  who  removed  at  noon-day,  and  while  it  was  under 
guard,  the  cannon  from  the  gun-house  on  West  Street, 


xcvnr  INTRODUCTION. 

which  afterwards  found  its  way  to  Washington's  camp. 
Some  of  the  tea  party  met  at  his  house,  and  were  assisted 
in  preparing  themselves  by  his  wife  and  daughter,  who 
blackened  their  faces  with  burnt  cork.  He  was  a 
confidential  messenger  between  Governor  Hancock  and 
Washington,  and  was  afterwards  a  prisoner  of  war,  having 
been  taken  in  a  privateer,  in  1781.  He  was  an  early 
member  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Associa- 
tion, and  was  also  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Lodge 
of  Freemasons  in  1792.  His  son,  Thomas,  a  member  of 
the  City  Council  of  Boston  in  1825-26,  died  June  4,  1859; 
aged  78. 

SETH    INGERSOLL    BROWN 

Was  born  in  Cambridge,  Mass.,  March  13,  1750.  He  was 
the  son  of  William  Brown,  born  in  1683.  Mr.  Brown's 
trade  was  that  of  a  house  carpenter.  In  the  lower  part  of 
his  shop,  in  Charlestown,  was  stored  the  ammunition  after- 
wards used  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  He  was  in  full 
sympathy  with  the  cause  of  liberty ;  was  one  of  the 
"Mohawks"  on  the  memorable  i6th  of  December,  and  on 
that  occasion  was  masked  and  painted,  and  bore  a  club. 
He  used  to  relate  to  his  daughters,  that  on  returning  home 
from  the  scene  of  destruction,  he  had  to  fight  his  way 
through  the  excited  crowd,  with  his  back  to  the  houses,  to 
avoid  discovery.  They  kept  his  connection  with  the  affair 
a  profound  secret  many  years,  and  when  it  was  spoken  of 
in  their  old  age,  excused  their  silence  regarding  it  on  the 
ground  that  they  thought  it  was  a  disgrace,  like  a  riot  or  a 
mob,  and  ought  not  to  be  told.  At  Bunker  Hill  he  was 


INTRODUCTION.  xcix 

wounded  in  the  leg,  and  also  received  an  injury  to  his  eye. 
He  said  he  should  never  forget  the  cry  that  went  up  during 
the  battle,  of  "  No  ammunition  !  no  ammunition  !  "  Mr. 
Brown  served  as  an  assistant  commissary  during  the  siege 
of  Boston,  and  continued  with  the  army  until  the  war 
closed.  He  was  paid  off  in  worthless  Continental  money  - 
there  was  no  other  —  and  it  is  related  that  his  spunky  little 
wife,  indignant  at  the  poor  reward  of  such  sacrifices  as  her 
husband  had  made,  on  receiving  it  from  him,  threw  it  all 
into  the  fire.  She  is  described  as  short,  stout  and  hand- 
some, with  long,  straight,  black  hair,  that  fell  almost  to  her 
feet. 

.  After  the  war,  Mr.  Brown,  with  impaired  health  and  eye- 
sight, kept  a  tavern  successively  in  Charlestown,  Cambridge, 
Newton  Corner,  the  Punch  Bowl  in  Roxbury,  and  finally 
the  Sun  tavern,  in  Wing's  Lane,  (Elm  Street,)  Boston.  He 
died  in  Charlestown,  Mass.,  March  9,  1809,  leaving  several 
children  by  his  second  wife,  Sarah  Godding,  of  Cambridge. 
Three  of  his  daughters,  Cynthia,  Harriet  and  Angeline  — 
lived  to  be  over  eighty,  —  retained  their  memories  and  their 
mental  faculties  to  the  last,  and  preserved  many  interesting 
reminiscences  of  their  father's  revolutionary  career.  Mr. 
Brown  was  a  good  singer,  and  they  recall  this  verse  of  a 
song,  having  reference  to  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill : 

"  We  marched  down  to  Charlestown  ferry, 

And  there  we  had  our  battle ; 
The  shot  it  flew  like  pepper  and  salt. 
And  made  the  old  town  rattle." 

The  name    of    Seth    Ingersoll    Brown    is    recorded    on  the 
monument,  in   Hope    Cemetery,  Worcester,  Mass.,  erected  in 


c  INTRODUCTION. 

1870,  to  the  memory  of  Captain  Peter  Slater,  and  his  asso- 
ciates of  the  Boston  tea  party.  He  is  buried  in  the  Gran- 
ary burying-ground. 

Of  Mr.  Brown's  descendants,  known  in  public  life,  may  be 
mentioned  Rev.  John  W.  Hanson,  D.  D.,  of  Chicago,  111. ; 
Rev.  Warren  H.  Cudworth,  D.  D.,  formerly  of  East  Boston  ; 
Harriet  H.  Robinson,  who  married  William  S.  Robinson, 
( "  Warrington," )  journalist,  and  clerk  of  the  Massachusetts 
House  of  Representatives  from  1862  to  1873,  and  their 
elder  daughter,  Harriet  R.  Shattuck. 

"  Though  none  of  his  descendants  will  continue  to  bear 
his  name,  —  the  male  branch  being  extinct  in  the  third 
generation,"  writes  his  grand-daughter,  Mrs.  H.  H.  Robinson, 
"some  of  them  have  inherited  his  spirit  of  resistance  to  laws 
that  compel  them  —  his  only  surviving  representatives,  —  "  to 
submit  to  taxation  without  representation."  To  this  lady 
we  are  indebted  for  the  materials  from  which  this  notice  is 
derived. 

Some  lines,  written  in  1773,  by  Susannah  Clarke,  "  War- 
rington's"  great  grandmother's  sister,  serve  to  manifest  the 
spirit  that  pervaded  the  country  when  non-tea  drinking  was 
held  to  be  a  religious  duty  by  American  women: 


"  We  '11  lay  hold  of  card  and  wheel, 
And  join  our  hands  to  turn  and  reel ; 
We  '11  turn  the  tea  all  in  the  sea, 
And  all  to  keep  our  liberty. 

We'll  put  on  home-spun  garbs, 
And  make  tea  of  our  garden  herbs  ; 
When  we  are  dry  we'll  drink  small  beer, 
And  FREEDOM  shall  our  spirits  cheer." 


INTRODUCTION.  ci 


STEPHEN  BRUCE 

Was  a  merchant,  doing  business  at  28  State  Street,  and  was 
one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the  "  Dartmouth."  He  was 
the  first  inspector  of  beef  and  pork,  appointed  by  the 
State  of  Massachusetts,  and  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment 
and  inflexible  integrity.  He  became  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew  in  1779,  and  master  in  1782. 
He  died  July  26,  1801. 


COLONEL    BENJAMIN    BURTON 

Was  born  in  the  old  Burton  House,  Thomaston,  Maine, 
December  9,  1749,  and  died  in  Warren,  Maine,  May  23, 
1835.  Happening  to  be  in  Boston  on  a  visit  on  the 
memorable  i6th  of  December,  1773,  he  went  with  the 
crowd  to  the  Old  South  Meeting  House,  and  at  the  close  of 
the  meeting,  heard  the  cry  "Tea  party!  tea  party!"  Joining 
the  party  that  boarded  the  tea-ships,  he  labored  with  all  his 
might  in  throwing  the  tea  into  the  water.  It  being  about 
low  tide,  the  tea  rested  on  the  bottom,  and  when  the 
tide  rose  it  floated,  and  was  lodged  by  the  surf  along  the 
shore.  He  was  subsequently  an  officer  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary army ;  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Burgoyne, 
and  himself  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy,  in  February, 
1781,  sharing  in  the  imprisonment  of  General  Peleg  Wads- 
worth,  at  Castine,  and  in  the  daring  escape  of  that  officer. 
After  the  war,  he  was  eight  years  a  magistrate,  and  was 
often  a  member  of  the  legislature. 


en  INTRODUCTION. 


NICHOLAS    CAMPBELL 

A  native  of  the  Island  of  Malta,  died  in  Warren,  R.  I., 
July  23,  1829;  aged  ninety-seven.  He  came  to  this  country 
just  previous  to  the  Revolution,  during  a  great  part  of  which 
he  was  employed  in  the  marine  service,  and  by  many  deeds 
of  noble  daring,  aided  the  cause  of  liberty,  and  evinced 
his  attachment  to  his  adopted  country.  He  had  been  a 
resident  of  Warren  fifty-four  years. 


THOMAS   CHASE, 

One  of  the  most  active  of  the  "  Sons  of  Liberty,"  was  a 
distiller,  near  the  famous  Liberty  Tree,  at  the  junction  of 
Orange,  Essex  and  Newbury  Streets.  In  the  office  of  Chase 
&  Speakman  the  meetings  of  the  committee  of  the  "  Sons " 
were  held,  of  one  of  which  John  Adams  has  left  an  ac- 
count. Chase  was  one  of  those  who  prepared  and  sus- 
pended the  effigies  of  Bute  and  Oliver  from  Liberty  Tree, 
on  August  14,  1765.  He  was  one  of  the  volunteer  guard 
on  the  "Dartmouth,"  on  the  night  of  November  29,  1773; 
was  a  member  of  the  "  Anti-Stamp  Fire  Society,"  formed 
soon  after  the  passage  of  the  Stamp  Act,  in  1765,  and 
joined  St.  Andrew's  Lodge  of  Freemasons  in  1769. 


INTRODUCTION.  cm 


BENJAMIN   CLARKE 

Was  a  cooper,  in  Ship  Street,  and  in  1807  resided  in  Prince 
Street.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Chari- 
table Mechanic  Association  in  1801  ;  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  Company  in  1806,  and  died  in  1840. 


JOHN    COCHRAN, 

Born  in  East  Boston,  in  1750;  died  in  Belfast,  Maine, 
October  30,  1839.  The  monument  there  erected  to  his 
memory  bears  the  following  inscription :  "  He  was  one 
of  the  memorable  tea  party  at  Boston,  December  16,  1773." 
His  only  surviving  son,  of  the  same  name,  now  (1884)  resides 
at  Belfast,  at  the  age  of  eighty-three 

GILBERT   COLESWORTHY, 

Born  in  Boston,  December  23,  1744,  removed  to  Nantucket, 
Mass.,  and  died  there  in  1818. 


GERSHOM   COLLIER, 

Of  Chesterfield,  Mass.,  died  about  the  year  1825. 
13 


civ  INTRODUCTION. 


ADAM   COLLSON 

Was  a  leather  dresser,  near  the  "  Great  Trees,"  on  Essex 
Street,  as  we  learn  by  his  advertisement  soon  after  the  pas- 
sage of  the  Stamp  Act,  in  which  he  says:  "Understanding 
that  many  worthy  tradesmen  had  agreed  to  wear  nothing 
but  leather  for  their  working  habits,  '  he  offers '  to  dress 
all  sorts  of  skins  suitable  for  that  purpose."  Collson  was 
one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the  "Dartmouth"  on  the 
night  of  November  30,  1773,  and  was  said  to  be  the  per- 
son who,  at  the  close  of  the  meeting  of  December  i6th, 
at  the  Old  South,  shouted  from  the  gallery,  "  Boston  harbor 
a  tea-pot  to-night ! "  He  became  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's 
Lodge  of  Freemasons  in  1763,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
February  16,  1798,  aged  sixty,  resided  at  59  Marlboro' 
(Washington)  Street.  He  was  a  member  of  the  "  Long 
Room"  Club. 


JAMES    FOSTER   CONDY, 

A  bookseller  in  Boston  before  the  Revolution,  doing  busi- 
ness in  Union  Street,  "  opposite  the  cornfields,"  died  in 
Haverhill,  Mass.,  July  12,  1809. 


SAMUEL   COOPER 

Was  born  in  Boston,  in  1755,  and  was  living  in  George- 
town, D.C.,  in  1838.  He  was  commissioned  second  lieu- 
tenant in  Crane's  artillery  regiment,  February  i,  1777; 


INTRODUCTION.  cv 

quartermaster  i4th  May,  1778;  lieutenant  and  adjutant  in 
1783.  He  was  inspector  of  pot  and  pearl  ashes  in  New 
York  city  and  county,  from  1808  to  1830.  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral Samuel  Cooper,  of  the  United  States  army,  afterwards 
a  general  in  the  Confederate  army,  who  died  in  1877,  was 
his  son. 


JOHN    CRANE, 

Colonel  of  the  Massachusetts  regiment  of  artillery  in  the 
Continental  line  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  was  born  in 
Milton,  Mass.,  7th  December,  1744,  and  died  in  Whiting, 
Maine,  2ist  August,  1805.  His  education  was  scanty.  In 
1759,  when  only  fifteen  years  of  age,  his  father,  Abijah  was 
drafted  as  a  soldier  in  the  French  war.  John  offered  to  go 
in  his  father's  stead,  and  was  laughed  at  on  account  of  his 
youth.  Nevertheless,  the  boy  went  and  proved  himself  a 
brave  lad,  saving  the  life  of  a  lame  fellow-soldier,  who  had 
fallen  when  pursued  by  a  party  of  Indians,  at  St.  John's. 
He  came  to  Boston  in  early  life,  married,  and  established 
himself  in  business  as  a  house  carpenter,  —  his  house  and 
shop  being  in  Tremont  Street,  opposite  Hollis.  He  assisted 
Major  Paddock  in  setting  out  the  elm  trees  on  the  Tremont 
Street  mall,  about  the  year  1765.  These  trees  were  old 
acquaintances  of  Crane's,  having,  like  him,  been  transplanted 
from  Milton.  Naturally  enough,  in  one  of  his  ardent 
temperament,  he  at  once  identified  himself  with  the  active 
Sons  of  Liberty.  One  of  the  famous  tea  party,  his  career 
came  near  being  permanently  ended  by  the  fall  of  a  derrick, 
used  in  hoisting  out  the  tea,  which,  falling  upon  him, 


cvi  INTRODUCTION. 

knocked  him  senseless.  His  comrades,  supposing  him  killed, 
bore  him  to  a  neighboring  carpenter's  shop,  and  secreted 
the  body  under  a  pile  of  shavings.  They  afterwards  took 
him  to  his  home,  where  good  nursing  and  a  strong  consti- 
tution, soon  brought  him  round.  The  late  Colonel  Joseph 
Lovering,  who  lived  opposite  to  Crane,  used  to  relate  that 
he  held  the  light  on  that  memorable  evening,  while  Crane, 
and  other  young  men,  his  neighbors,  disguised  themselves 
for  the  occasion.  House  building  and  other  branches  of 
industry  having  been  paralyzed  by  the  "  Boston  Port  Bill," 
Crane,  with  his  partner,  Ebenezer  Stevens,  (also  one  of  the 
tea  party,)  went  to  Providence,  R.I.,  where  they  followed 
their  business  with  success,  until  the  war  broke  out.  Both 
had  been  members  of  Paddock's  artillery  company,  a  corps 
famous  for  having  furnished  a  large  number  of  valuable 
officers  to  that  arm  of  the  service  in  the  Revolutionary  army, 
among  whom  may  be  named  John  Crane,  Ebenezer  Stevens, 
William  Perkins,  Henry  Burbeck,  John  Lillie,  and  David 
Bryant.  Crane  had  been  commissioned  by  Governor  Wan- 
ton, captain-lieutenant  of  the  train  of  artillery  of  the  colony 
of  Rhode  Island,  December  12,  1774,  (barely  one  year  after 
the  destruction  of  the  tea,)  and  immediately  after  receiving 
the  news  of  the  battle  of  Lexington,  he  was  made  captain 
of  the  train  attached  to  the  Rhode  Island  "  Army  of  Observa- 
tion," commanded  by  General  Nathaniel  Greene.  Crane's 
command,  '•  all  well  accoutred,  with  four  excellent  field-pieces 
marched,  in  the  latter  part  of  May,  to  join  the  American 
army  near  Boston.  They  made  a  very  military  appearance, 
and  are,  without  exception,  as  complete  a  body  of  men  as 
any  in  the  king's  dominions."  Stevens  was  a  lieutenant  in 
this  company.  Possessing  a  remarkably  keen  vision,  Crane 


INTRODUCTION.  cvn 

was  exceedingly  skilful  as  an  artillerist,  a  talent  he  had 
frequent  opportunities  to  display  during  the  siege  of  Boston. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  July  8,  1775,  Majors  Tupper  and 
Crane,  with  a  number  of  volunteers,  attacked  the  British 
advance  guard  at  Brown's  House,  on  Boston  Neck,  (near  the 
corner  of  Newton  Street  and  Blackstone  Square.)  routed 
them,  and  burned  two  houses.  This  was  regarded  as  a 
brave  and  well-executed  affair,  and  is  noteworthy  as  being 
the  only  hostile  encounter  that  has  ever  taken  place  in  the 
old  limits  of  Boston.  During  the  siege  he  was  stationed  at 
the  Roxbury  line,  and  was  engaged  in  several  skirmishes  on 
the  islands  in  the  harbor.  Commissioned  major  of  Knox's 
regiment,  January  i,  1776,  he  accompanied  the  army  to  New 
York,  and  while  cannonading  a  British  frigate  which  was 
passing  his  batteries  at  Corlaers  Hook,  was  severely  wounded 
by  a  cannon  ball,  which  carried  off  a  part  of  his  foot,  dis- 
abling him  for  several  months,  and  finally  causing  his  death  — 
the  wound  having  closed.  He  raised  in  Massachusetts,  in 
1777,  the  3d  regiment  of  Continental  artillery,  which  he 
commanded  till  the  war  ended,  when  he  was  brevetted  a 
brigadier-general,  (October  10,  1783,)  his  commission  as 
colonel  dating  from  January  i,  1777.  This  corps,  officered 
chiefly  from  those  who  had  been  trained  under  Paddock, 
Gridley  and  Knox,  was  not  exceeded  in  discipline,  valor, 
and  usefulness  by  any  in  the  service.  It  was  principally 
employed  with  the  main  army,  and  was  an  essential  auxiliary 
in  the  most  important  operations.  Portions  of  it  were  also 
with  Sullivan  in  the  Rhode  Island  campaign,  with  Gates  at 
Saratoga,  and  in  the  heroic  defence  of  Red  Bank,  on  the 
Delaware.  After  the  peace,  Crane  formed  a  partnership 
with  Colonel  Lemuel  Trescott,  in  the  lumber  business,  in 


cvin  INTRODUCTION. 

Passamaquoddy,  Maine,  in  which  they  were  unsuccessful. 
The  connection  was  soon  dissolved,  and  Crane  finally  settled 
in  Whiting,  Washington  County,  Maine,  where  he  had  a 
grant  of  two  hundred  acres  of  land,  for  his  Revolutionary 
services,  from  the  legislature  of  Massachusetts.  Colonel 
Crane  was  five  feet  eight  inches  in  height,  stout  and  thick 
set.  He  possessed  great  energy,  resolution  and  courage, 
and  at  critical  moments  was  perfectly  cool.  In  1790,  he 
was  commissioned  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  by 
Governor  Hancock.  While  at  the  lines  on  Boston  Neck, 
Crane  aimed  a  ball  at  a  house  near  his  own,  belonging  to 
Rev.  Dr.  Byles,  the  Tory,  but  succeeded  only  in  knocking 
the  ridge  pole  from  his  own  dwelling.  He  became  a  Free- 
mason in  1781,  joining  an  army  lodge  at  West  Point,  and 
was  also  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Society  of  the 
Cincinnati.  Colonel  Crane,  in  1767,  married  Mehitabel 
Wheeler,  believed  to  have  been  a  sister  of  Captain  Josiah 
Wheeler,  a  member  of  the  tea  party.  His  three  daughters 
married  three  sons  of  Colonel  John  Allan,  who,  with  his 
Indian  allies,  rendered  valuable  service  to  the  patriot  cause 
in  protecting  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war,  the  exposed 
north-eastern  frontier.  William  Allan,  who  married  Alice 
Crane,  was  the  grandfather  of  George  H.  Allan,  of  Boston, 
from  whom  many  of  the  above  facts  have  been  derived, 
and  who  has  made  extensive  collections  relative  to  the  Allan 
and  Crane  families. 


INTRODUCTION.  cix 


MAJOR    ROBERT    DAVIS, 

Merchant,  importer  of  groceries,  wines  and  liquors,  did  busi- 
ness at  No.  i  Cornhill,  and  resided  in  Orange  Street.  He 
was  the  son  of  Joshua  and  Sarah  (Pierpont)  Davis,  and  was 
born  24th  January,  1747.  He  was  a  Son  of  Liberty,  and 
as  an  officer  in  Crafts's  artillery  regiment,  took  part  in  the 
expulsion  of  the  British  fleet  from  Boston  harbor,  ultimately 
attaining  the  rank  of  major.  Member  of  the  Ancient  and 
Honorable  Artillery  Company  in  1786.  His  brothers,  Caleb 
and  Amasa,  were  also  prominent  Revolutionary  characters, — 
the  latter  having  been  forty  years  quartermaster-general  of 
Massachusetts.  Robert  Davis  became  a  member  of  St. 
Andrew's  Lodge  of  Freemasons  in  1777,  and  died  in 
November,  1798.  His  daughter,  Clarissa,  widow  of  William 
Ely,  was  living  in  Hartford  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
two. 

EDWARD    DOLBEAR 

Was  a  fellow-apprentice,  and  afterwards  a  partner  with 
Henry  Purkitt,  in  the  business  of  a  cooper,  in  South  Street. 
His  residence  was  near  Dr.  Eliot's  Meeting  House,  where 
he  died,  in  April,  1796. 


CAPTAIN   JOSEPH    EATON 

Was  an  eccentric  and  excitable,  but  patriotic  citizen,  a 
hatter  by  trade.  He  claimed  to  have  hauled  down  the 
first  British  colors  at  the  outset  of  the  Revolution,  and  to 


ex  INTRODUCTION. 

have  loaded  a  cannon  in  State  Street  to  prevent  the  regulars 
from  landing,  in  1774.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Ancient 
and  Honorable  Artillery  Company;  was  an  ardent  democrat, 
and  late  in  life  wore  a  cocked  hat,  and  styled  himself 
"  general." 

JOSEPH    EAYRES 

Was  one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the  "  Dartmouth "  on 
the  night  of  November  30,  1773.  He  was  a  housewright 
in  Essex  Street,  in  1789. 

ECKLEY, 


A  barber,  was  informed  against  for  his  participation  in  the 
destruction  of  the  tea,  and  committed  to  prison.  The 
Sons  of  Liberty  supported  him  while  in  confinement,  and 
also  provided  for  his  family.  He  was  finally  liberated,  and 
.the  person  who  informed  against  him  was  tarred  and 
feathered,  and  paraded  through  the  town  with  labels  on  his 
breast  and  back  bearing  his  name,  and  the  word  "INFORMER" 
in  large  letters. 

WILLIAM    ETHERIDGE, 

Who  was  a  mason,  while  engaged  in  throwing  the  tea  over- 
board, was  recognized  by  his  apprentice,  Samuel  Sprague. 

SAMUEL    FENNO, 

A    housewright,  was    born    in    Boston,    in    1745,  and    died  in 
1806.       He    lived    in    a    large    wooden    house    on    Tremont 


INTRODUCTION.  cxi 

Street,  near  Hollis  Street,  and  was  a  near  neighbor  of 
Crane,  Levering  and  the  Bradlees.  He  was  a  man  of 
unusual  reticence,  but  noted  for  courage  and  patriotism. 
From  1773  till  his  death,  he  kept  a  vow  never  to  drink  tea. 
In  1797  he  married  Mary,  the  sister  of  Joseph  Hiller,  the 
first  collector  of  the  port  of  Salem,  and  was  the  father  of 
Captain  John  Fenno,  a  pioneer  in  the  China  trade. 


CAPTAIN   SAMUEL    FOSTER, 

Of  Roxbury,  was  a  sergeant  in  Captain  Moses  Whiting's 
minute  company,  at  Lexington,  and  as  a  captain  in  Greaton's 
regiment,  served  at  Ticonderoga,  and  in  other  campaigns  of 
the  Revolutionary  war. 


NATHANIEL    FROTHINGHAM, 

A  coachmaker,  at  No.  5  West  Street,  died  January  22,  1825; 
aged  seventy-nine. 


JOHN    GAMMELL 

Was  of  Scotch  descent,  his  father  bearing  the  same  name, 
having  come  to  Boston  about  the  year  1740.  The  son  was 
born  in  Boston,  in  1749,  and  died  there  in  1827.  His 
trade  was  that  of  a  carpenter,  in  which  capacity  he  served 

14 


cxn  INTRODUCTION. 

seven  years  in  the  construction  department  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary army.  He  was  a  participant  in  the  Stamp  Act 
riots,  and  in  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  and  in  his  later 
years  used  to  describe  the  latter  affair,  with  great  minute- 
ness, in  the  presence  of  his  family,  and  on  the  anniversary 
of  the  day  would  act  over  again  the  part  he  then  performed. 
He  married  Margaret  Urann,  by  whom  he  had  fifteen 
children.  As  the  initials  J  and  T  were  in  old  times  inter- 
changeable, there  is  no  doubt  but  this  is  the  person  men- 
tioned in  the  list  of  1835. 

Communicated  by  Prof.  Wm.  Gammell,  of  Brown  University,  and  Rev.  Serene 
Dwight  Gammell,  of  Wellington,  O.,  grandsons  of  John  Gammell. 


SAMUEL    GORE, 

Born  in  Boston,  February  6,  1751;  died  November  16,  1831. 
Captain  John  Gore,  his  father,  a  lieutenant  in  the  Ancient 
and  Honorable  Artillery  Company,  in  1753,  had,  by  industry, 
acquired  considerable  wealth.  Being  a  Tory,  he  left  Boston 
with  the  British  army  in  1776,  but  afterwards  returned. 
Samuel  followed  his  father's  trade,  that  of  a  painter,  in 
Court  Street,  at  the  corner  of  Gore's  Alley,  (Brattle  Street,) 
but,  unlike  him,  was  an  ardent  patriot.  He  was  one  of  the 
party  of  young  men  who,  at  noon-day,  and  under  the  eyes 
of  the  British  guard,  carried  off  and  secreted  the  cannon 
from  the  gun-house  that  stood  opposite  the  mall  at  the 
corner  of  West  Street.  His  companions  in  this  daring  feat 
were  Nathaniel  Balch,  James  Brewer,  Moses  Grant,  Jeremiah 

Gridley    and   Whiston.       Mr.  Gore   was    one    of   those 

who  established   the   glass-works  in    Essex    Street,  a  specula- 


INTRODUCTION.  cxm 

tion  by,  which  he  unfortunately  lost  all  the  accumulations 
of  many  years  of  untiring  industry.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew,  in  1778,  and  was  the 
first  treasurer  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic 
Association.  Governor  Christopher  Gore  was  a  younger 
brother.  He  was  a  man  of  superior  intelligence,  kindness 
of  heart,  and  courtesy  of  manner. 


MOSES    GRANT, 

Son  of  Samuel,  and  father  of  Deacon  Moses  Grant,  was 
born  in  Boston,  March  13,  1743;  died  December  22,  1817. 
He  was  an  upholsterer,  on  Union  Street,  and  his  son,  Moses, 
was  a  partner  with  him  until  his  death.  He  was  an  ardent 
patriot ;  was  one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the  "  Dart- 
mouth," on  the  night  of  November  29,  1773;  was  one  of 
those  who  seized  and  carried  off  the  cannon  from  the  gun- 
house,  on  West  Street,  and  one  of  the  renowned  "  tea 
party."  Member  of  the  company  of  cadets,  and  a  deacon  of 
Brattle  Street  church. 


cxiv  INTRODUCTION. 


NATHANIEL   GREENE 

Was  in  1789  register  of  deeds,  at  42  Cornhill.  He  was  an 
ardent  Son  of  Liberty,  and  was  present  at  the  public  cele- 
bration in  Dorchester,  where  three  hundred  of  them  gathered, 
August  14,  1769. 


SAMUEL    HAMMOND, 

One  of  the  tea  party,  died  at  Wadsborough,  Vt,  January  4, 
1842;  aged  ninety-three.  In  1774,  he  began  a  settlement 
near  Otter  Creek,  N.Y.,  but  the  hostility  of  the  Indians 
drove  him  to  Vermont,  and  he  fixed  his  residence  at  Wads- 
borough.  He  was  an  industrious  farmer,  and  an  active 
patriot. 

WILLIAM    HENDLEY, 

A  Revolutionary  pensioner,  formerly  of  Roxbury,  died  at 
Waldoborough,  Me.,  in  February,  1830;  aged  eighty-two. 
He  was  a  mason,  on  Newbury  Street,  Boston,  in  1796. 

GEORGE    ROBERT   TWELVES    HEWES, 

Born  in  Boston,  September  5,  1742,  died  at  Richfield,  Otsego 
County,  N.Y.,  November  5,  1840,  at  the  great  age  of  ninety- 
eight.  His  education  was  scanty ;  farming,  fishing,  and 
shoemaking  being  his  chief  occupations.  Excitable  and 


INTRODUCTION.  cxv 

patriotic,  he  took  part  in  numerous  ante-Revolutionary 
disturbances  in  Boston,  and  engaged  in  the  naval,  and 
afterwards  in  the  military,  service  of  his  country  during  the 
war.  His  residence  was  at  the  Bulls  Head,  an  old  house 
that  stood  on  the  north-east  corner  of  Congress  and  Water 
Streets.  The  most  detailed  account  we  have  of  the  destruc- 
tion of  the  tea  in  Boston,  was  given  by  him,  in  "  Traits  of 
the  Tea  Party,"  by  B.  B.  Thatcher,  published  in  New  York, 
in  1835.  An  oil  portrait  of  Hewes  is  in  the  possession  of 
his  grandson,  Mr.  Henry  Hewes,  of  West  Medford,  Mass. 


JOHN    HICKS, 

Born  in  Cambridge,  May  23,  1725,  was  one  of  the  earliest 
martyrs  to  the  cause  of  American  liberty,  having  been  killed 
by  the  British  on  their  retreat  from  Lexington,  April  19, 
1775.  John,  his  son,  was  a  printer,  and  became  in  1773,  a 
partner  with  Nathaniel  Mills,  in  the  publication  of  the 
"  Post  Boy,"  a  Tory  sheet. 


SAMUEL    HOBBS, 

Born  in  Lincoln,  Mass.,  in  1750,  died  at  Sturbridge,  Mass., 
in  May,  1823.  While  in  the  employ  of  Simeon  Pratt,  a 
tanner,  of  Roxbury,  he  aided  in  throwing  the  tea  overboard, 
and  afterwards  said  that  chests  of  Bohea,  weighing  three 
hundred  and  sixty  pounds,  were  rather  heavy  to  lift.  He 
settled  in  Sturbridge,  as  a  farmer,  also  carrying  on  his  trade 
of  tanner  and  currier.  By  his  wife,  Lucy  Munroe,  of 
Lexington,  he  had  four  children. 


cxvi  INTRODUCTION. 


JOHN    HOOTON, 

An  apprentice,  while  at  work  on  the  tea,  saw  a  person  who 
looked  like  a  countryman,  coming  up  with  a  small  boat  to 
the  ship's  side,  evidently  intending  to  secure  a  cargo  for  his 
own  use.  He,  and  three  or  four  other  "  North  Enders,"  as 
full  of  spirit  as  himself,  being  directed  to  dislodge  the  inter- 
loper, jumped  over  and  beat  the  canoe  from  under  him  "  in 
the  twinkling  of  an  eye."  Hooton  was  an  oarmaker,  at 
Hooton's  wharf,  Fish  Street,  in  1789.  In  1806,  he  was  a 
wood-wharfinger,  on  North  Street,  residing  in  Prince  Street. 
In  1838,  his  residence  was  in  Chelsea,  Mass. 


SAMUEL     HOWARD, 

A  Boston  shipwright,  resided  at  the  "  Mansion  House,"  as 
it  was  called,  which  stood  on  the  site  of  the  Mariner's 
Church,  North  Square.  He  died  here  in  January,  1797,  at 
the  age  of  forty-five,  and  was  buried  in  Copp's  Hill.  His 
wife,  Anna  Lillie,  the  sister  of  Major  John  Lillie,  of  the 
Revolutionary  army,  died  in  North  Andover,  in  1804.  Two 
of  our  well-known  fellow  citizens,  Henry  Lillie  Pierce  and 
Edward  L.  Pierce,  are  grandsons  of  Major  Lillie.  Theophi- 
lus  Lillie,  the  Tory  trader,  who  was  mobbed  during  the  tea 
excitement,  was  Major  Lillie's  uncle.  Caroline,  the  youngest 
child  of  Samuel  and  Anna  Lillie  Howard,  born  October  3, 
1794,  married  Rev.  Samuel  Oilman,  D.D.,  of  Charleston,  S.C. 
She  is  still  living,  at  the  age  of  ninety,  and  resides  at 
Tiverton,  R.I.,  with  a  daughter  Mrs.  Bowen. 


GEORGE     ROBERT    TWELVES     HUGHES. 


- 
INTRODUCTION.  cxix 


EDWARD    C.    HOWE, 

Ropemaker,  died  in  September,  1821,  aged  seventy-nine. 
E.  C.  Howe  &  Son  (Joseph)  dissolved  partnership  August  i, 
1800.  Howe's  rope-walk  was  one  of  seven,  on  the  west  side 
of  Pearl  Street,  all  of  which  were  burnt  in  July,  1794. 


JONATHAN    HUNNEWELL, 

The  son  of  Richard,  followed  his  father's  trade,  of  a  mason. 
He  was  born  in  Boston,  May  19,  1759;  died  in  April,  1842. 
He  was  several  times  a  selectman  of  Boston,  and  member 
of  both  branches  of  the  legislature ;  was  connected  with 
many  benevolent  institutions,  and  was  for  nine  years  presi- 
dent of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Association. 
He  was  one  of  the  principal  agents  in  the  establishment  of 
the  glass-works,  in  Boston  and  Chelmsford,  and  its  failure, 
in  1822,  made  him  a  poor  man.  For  many  years  he  had 
a  country  residence  at  Newton,  which  was  the  seat  of  a  gen- 
erous hospitality.  The  latter  part  of  his  life  was  passed  in 
seclusion,  at  Roxbury,  where,  in  1800,  he  married  the 
widow  Theoda  Davis.  Jonathan,  his  brother,  and  Richard, 
his  father,  were  also  in  the  tea  party. 


RICHARD    HUNNEWELL. 

A  mason,  member  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic 
Association,  died  in  October,  1805.  He  resided  in  Essex 
Street ;  was  an  active  Son  of  Liberty,  and  was  one  of  the 
volunteer  guard  on  the  "  Dartmouth,"  on  the  night  of 


cxx  INTRODUCTION. 

November  30,  1773.  His  two  sons,  fourteen  and  sixteen 
years  of  age,  were  with  him  at  the  throwing  overboard  of 
the  tea. 

THOMAS    HUNSTABLE 

Was  born  in  1753.  He  lived  for  many  years  on  Brighton 
Street,  and  was  a  Freemason. 

COLONEL   ABRAHAM    HUNT 

Was  born  in  Braintree,  Mass.,  June  2,  1748;  died  Decem- 
ber 5,  1793.  He  was  apprenticed,  in  1763,  to  Edmund 
Quincy,  who  kept  a  wine-store,  and  was  afterwards  connected 
with  him  in  the  trade.  In  1789,  his  place  of  business 
was  in  Middle  (Hanover)  Street,  and  his  residence  on 
Federal  Street.  He  served  as  lieutenant  and  adjutant  at 
the  siege  of  Boston ;  was  in  the  Ticonderoga  campaign, 
remaining  some  years  in  the  service,  which  he  quitted  with 
the  rank  of  captain.  June  24,  1781,  he  was  agent  for  the 
privateer  "  Buccaneer,"  Captain  Hoysted  Hacker.  For  a 
time  he  was  inspector  of  the  ports  of  Boston  and  Charles- 
town.  In  1777,  he  became  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's 
Lodge  of  Freemasons.  October  15,  1771,  he  married  Mary 
St.  Leger.  His  orderly  books  for  June  and  July,  1775,  are 
in  the  possession  of  his  grandson,  Urann,  Esq. 

DANIEL    INGERSOLL, 

Housewright,  formerly  of  Boston,  died  in  Keene,  N.  H., 
October  17,  1829,  aged  seventy-nine.  He  was  a  member  of 
St.  Andrew's  Lodge,  in  1782. 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxin 


DAVID    KINNISON, 

The  last  of  the  tea  party,  born  in  Old  Kingston,  near 
Portsmouth,  Maine,  November  17,  1736  ;  died  in  Chicago, 
February  24,  1852;  aged  one  hundred  and  fifteen  years.  Up 
to  the  Revolution  he  was  a  farmer,  at  Lebanon,  whence,  with 
a  few  comrades,  members  of  a  political  club,  he  went  to 
Boston,  with  the  express  purpose  of  destroying  the  tea.  He 
was  in  active  service  during  the  war,  participating  in  many 
battles,  and  was  a  prisoner  among  the  Indians  at  its  close. 
He  was  a  farmer,  at  Wells,  Maine,  when  the  war  of  1812 
broke  out,  and  was  in  the  battles  at  Sackett's  Harbor  and 
Williamsburg,  and  in  the  latter  was  badly  wounded  in  the 
hand,  by  a  grape-shot.  He  afterwards  lived  at  Lyme,  and 
at  Sackett's  Harbor,  N.  Y.,  and  in  July,  1845,  went  to 
Chicago.  At  Lyme,  while  felling  a  tree,  he  was  struck 
down  by  a  limb,  which  fractured  his  skull,  broke  his  collar 
bone,  and  two  of  his  ribs.  While  engaged  in  discharging 
a  cannon,  at  a  training  at  Sackett's  Harbor,  both  legs  were 
broken  and  badly  shattered.  Up  to  1848  he  had  always 
made  something  by  his  labor,  and  was  the  father  of  twenty- 
two  children.  He  learned  to  read  when  past  sixty.  A 
daughter,  who  survived  in  1848,  was  made  acquainted  in 
that  year  with  her  father's  existence,  by  the  publication  of 
Mr.  Lossing's  "  Field  Book  of  the  Revolution."  Hastening 
to  him,  she  smoothed  the  patriarch's  pillow  in  his  passage 
to  the  grave. 


cxxiv  INTRODUCTION. 


JOSEPH    LEE, 

Merchant,  on  Long  Wharf,  afterwards  at  9  Doane  Street, 
was  a  member  of  Massachusetts  Lodge  of  Freemasons,  in 
1773,  and  died  February  6,  1831  ;  aged  eighty-six. 


AMOS    LINCOLN, 


Born  in  Hingham,  Mass.,  March  17,  1753,  died  at  Quincy, 
Mass.,  January  15,  1829.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  Mr.  Crafts, 
at  the  North  End,  who,  on  the  evening  of  December  16, 
1773,  secretly  procured  for  him  an  Indian  disguise,  dressed 
him  in  his  own  chamber,  —  darkening  his  face  to  the  re- 
quired tint,  —  and  then,  dropping  on  his  knees,  prayed  most 
fervently  that  he  might  be  protected  in  the  enterprise  in 
which  he  was  engaged.  Joining  Stark's  New  Hampshire 
regiment,  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill  ;  was  after- 
wards a  captain  in  Craft's  artillery  regiment,  and  was  at  one 
time  in  charge  of  the  castle,  in  Boston  harbor.  When 
Shays'  insurrection  broke  out,  he  assisted  in  its  suppression. 
He  was  a  housewright  of  much  skill.  The  wood-work  of 
the  State  House  was  under  his  charge,  and  evinces  the 
grace  and  beauty  of  his  workmanship.  He  married  a 
daughter  of  Paul  Revere.  His  grandson,  Frederick  W. 
Lincoln,  has  been  mayor  of  Boston.  He  joined  St.  Andrew's 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxv 

Lodge  of  Freemasons,  in  1777.  Governor  Levi  Lincoln, 
of  Massachusetts,  and  Governor  Enoch  Lincoln,  of  Maine, 
were  nephews  of  Captain  Amos  Lincoln. 


MATTHEW    LORING 

Was  a  cordwainer,  on  Devonshire  Street,  residing  on  Brattle 
Street.  He  died  November  7,  1829  ;  aged  seventy-nine. 

THOMAS    MACHIN 

Was  born  in  Staffordshire,  England,  2Oth  March,  1744; 
was  employed  by  Brindley  in  canal  construction,  and  in  1772 
came  to  America,  and  settled  in  Boston.  He  was  wounded 
at  Bunker  Hill,  while  acting  as  lieutenant  of  artillery;  i8th 
January,  1776,  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant  in  Col- 
Knox's  artillery  regiment,  and  was  employed  from  April  to 
June  in  that  year  in  laying  out  the  fortifications  for  the  de- 
fence of  the  town  and  harbor  of  Boston;  from  July,  1776,  to 
1781,  he  was  employed  in  constructing  the  fortifications 
which  were  to  render  the  Hudson  impassable  to  British  ves- 
sels. In  October,  1777,  when  Forts  Montgomery  and  Clinton 
were  taken  by  the  British,  Captain  Machin  was  wounded 
by  a  musket-ball,  which  entered  his  breast  and  passed  out 
under  his  right  shoulder.  In  April,  1779,  he  accompanied 
Colonel  Van  Schaick's  expedition  against  the  Onondagas, 
of  which  he  kept  a  journal,  and  in  June  joined  Sullivan's 
expedition  to  the  Genesee  Valley,  as  engineer.  A  map  of 
this  expedition,  executed  by  him,  was  in  the  possession  of 


cxxvi  INTRODUCTION. 

his  son,  Captain  Thomas  Machin.  In  the  fall  of  1781,  he 
aided  in  laying  out  the  works  of  the  American  army,  then 
besieging  Yorktown.  In  1783,  he  began  a  settlement  at 
New  Grange,  Ulster  County,  and  in  the  following  year 
erected  several  mills  at  the  Great  Pond,  a  few  miles  west 
of  Newburgh.  March  12,  1793,  he  was  commissioned  a 
captain,  to  take  rank  as  such  from  2ist  August,  1780.  In 
January,  1797,  he  removed  to  Montgomery  County,  N.Y., 
where  he  practised  surveying,  and  where  he  died,  at  his 
residence  in  Charleston,  a  part  of  the  old  town  of  Mohawk, 
3d  April,  1816  ;  Member  of  Army  Lodge,  West  Point,  1782. 

ARCHIBALD    MACNEIL, 

Died  in  Scituate,  Mass.,  February   i,   1840;    aged  ninety. 

CAPTAIN    MACKINTOSH 

Was  a  tradesman  of  Boston,  who  acquired  great  prominence 
in  the  local  disturbances  of  the  town,  prior  to  the  outbreak 
of  the  Revolution,  but  who  disappears  from  her  history  after 
that  period.  He  first  came  into  notice  as  the  leader  of  the 
South  End  party,  in  the  celebration  of  Pope  Day,  which 
took  place  on  the  5th  of  November,  in  commemoration  of 
the  discovery  of  the  gunpowder  plot.  In  1765,  the  two 
factions  of  the  North  and  South  Ends  harmonized,  and  after 
a  friendly  meeting  in  King  (now  State)  Street,  marched  to- 
gether to  Liberty  Tree.  The  leaders,  —  Mackintosh  of  the 
South,  and  Swift  of  the  North  End,  —  appeared  in  military 
habits,  with  small  canes  resting  on  their  left  arms,  having 
music  in  front  and  flank.  All  the  property  used  on  such 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxvii 

occasions  was  afterwards  burnt  on  Copp's  Hill.  Mackintosh 
was  a  ringleader  in  the  riot  of  August  26,  1765,  when 
Lieutenant-Governor  Hutchinson's  house  was  destroyed,  and 
was  arrested  in  King  Street  next  day,  but  was  immediately 
released  by  the  sheriff,  on  the  demand  of  a  number  of 
merchants,  and  other  persons  of  character  and  property. 
From  the  Diary  and  Letters  of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  we 
take  the  following  passage: 

"  The  Governor  had  summoned  a  council  the  day  after  the  riot.  The  sheriff 
attended,  and  upon  enquiring,  it  appeared  that  one  Mackintosh,  a  shoemaker,  was 
among  the  most  active  in  destroying  the  Lieutenant-Governor's  house  and  furni- 
ture. A  warrant  was  given  to  the  sheriff  to  apprehend  him  by  name,  with  divers 
others.  Mackintosh  appeared  in  King  Street,  and  the  sheriff  took  him,  but  soon 
discharged  him,  and  returned  to  the  council  chamber,  where  he  gave  an  account 
of  his  taking  him,  and  that  Mr.  Nathaniel  Coffin,  and  several  other  gentlemen, 
came  to  him  and  told  him  that  it  had  been  agreed  that  the  cadets,  and  many 
other  persons,  should  appear  in  arms  the  next  evening,  as  a  guard  and  security 
against  a  fresh  riot,  which  was  feared,  and  said  to  have  been  threatened,  but  not 
a  man  would  appear  unless  Mackintosh  was  discharged.  The  Lieutenant-Governor 
asked,  '  And  did  you  discharge  him  ? '  '  Yes.'  '  Then  you  have  not  done  your 
duty.'  And  this  was  all  the  notice  taken  of  the  discharge.  The  true  reason  of 
thus  distinguishing  Mackintosh  was  that  he  could  discover  who  employed  him, 
whereas  the  other  persons  apprehended  were  such  as-  had  collected  together  with- 
out knowing  of  any  previous  plan." 

Mackintosh  was  styled  the  "  First  Captain-General  of  Lib- 
erty Tree,"  and  had  charge  of  the  illuminations,  hanging  of 
effigies,  etc.  Long  afterward,  in  speaking  of  the  tea  party, 
he  said,  "  It  was  my  chickens  that  did  the  job."  My  in- 
formant, Mr.  Schuler  Merrill,  then  a  boy  of  ten,  remarks 
that  it  was  a  mystery  to  him,  at  that  time,  "  how  chickens 
could  have  anything  to  do  with  a  tea  party !  "  Mackintosh 
is  described  by  Merrill  as  "  of  slight  build,  sandy  complexion, 
and  nervous  temperament."  He  died  in  extreme  poverty,  at 
North  Haverhill,  N.H.,  about  the  year  1812,  at  the  age  of 


cxxvin  INTRODUCTION. 

seventy.  His  unmarked  grave  can  be  pointed  out  by  Mr. 
Merrill,  who  still  resides  in  North  Haverhill,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-two. 

COLONEL    JOHN    MAY, 

Born  in  Boston,  November  24,  1748,  died  July  16,  1812. 
On  the  afternoon  of  December  16,  1773,  he  went  in  haste 
to  his  home,  on  North  Square,  and  said  to  his  young  wife, 
"  Nabby,  let  me  have  a  beefsteak  as  quickly  as  possible." 
While  he  was  eating  it,  a  rap  was  heard  on  the  window, 
and  he  rose  at  once  from  the  unfinished  meal  and  departed. 
He  returned  late,  tired  and  uncommunicative.  In  the 
morning,  there  was  found  in  his  shoes,  and  scattered  upon 
the  floor,  a  quantity  of  tea.  The  inevitable  inference  from 
these  circumstances  is  strengthened  by  evidence  of  a  very 
different  character.  Near  the  close  of  Major  Melvill's  life, 
he  gave,  while  dining  with  a  few  friends,  some  anecdotes 
of  the  tea  party,  and  turning  to  Henry  Knox  May,  the  son 
of  Colonel  May,  he  said,  "  Harry,  there  was  one  John  there." 
The  son,  who  knew  the  family  tradition,  was  eager  to  learn 
more.  "  Not  now,  Harry,"  said  the  major,  "  Come  and  see 
me,  and  I  will  tell  you  all  about  it."  Mr.  May  called  re- 
peatedly upon  him,  but  could  never  obtain  any  further 
satisfaction  respecting  the  object  of  his  inquiry.  Colonel 
May  was  a  man  of  great  energy  and  courage,  an  ardent 
patriot,  and  one  not  likely  to  be  overlooked  in  the  making- 
up  of  a  company  of  picked  men  for  such  an  enterprise. 
He  was  at  one  time  colonel  of  the  Boston  regiment,  and 
was  for  many  years  a  selectman,  and  a  firewarden  of  the 
town.  He  made  a  journey  of  exploration  to  the  Ohio 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxix 

region,  in  1788  and  1789,  an  account  of  which  has  been 
published.  Two  sons,  Frederick  and  George  Washington 
May,  were  skilful  physicians,  in  Washington,  D.C.  He  has 
numerous  grandchildren  living,  among  them  Prof.  Edward 
Tuckerman,  of  Amherst  College,  and  Samuel  P.  Tucker- 
man,  Mus.  Doc.,  resident  in  England. 

I  am   indebted  for  the  above  facts   to  my  friend,  John  Joseph  May,  Esq.,  of 
Mayfield,  Dorchester. 

MAJOR    THOMAS    MELVILL 

Was  born  in  Boston,  January  16,  1751,  and  died  there 
September  16,  1832.  He  was  the  grandson  of  Thomas, 
minister  of  Scoonie  Parish,  Fifeshire,  a  cadet  of  the  Scottish 
family  of  the  Earls  of  Leven  and  Melvill.  Allan,  his 
father,  left  Scotland,  and  established  himself  in  business  in 
Boston,  in  1 743.  Left  an  orphan  at  the  age  of  ten,  the  care 
of  his  education  devolved  upon  his  maternal  grandmother, 
Mrs.  Mary  Cargill,  a  relative  of  the  celebrated  surgeon,  Dr. 
Abernethy.  Young  Melvill  was  graduated  at  Princeton 
College,  in  1 769,  with  a  view  to  the  ministry,  but  impaired 
health  led  him  to  make  a  visit  to  Scotland,  in  1771.  Re- 
turning to  Boston,  in  1773,  he  established  himself  in  busi- 
ness in  that  town,  just  at  the  time  when  the  tea  excitement 
began,  and  being  strongly  in  sympathy  with  the  "  Sons 
of  Liberty,"  and  a  member  of  the  Long  Room  Club,  he 
took  an  active  part  in  the  event  of  December  16,  1773. 
Some  of  the  tea  taken  from  his  shoes,  after  his  return 
home,  was  preserved,  and  is  now  in  the  possession  of  Mrs. 
Thomas  Melvill,  of  Galena,  Illinois.  The  picture  here  given 
is  a  fac-simile  of  the  venerable  relic  itself.  In  1773,  he 


cxxx  INTRODUCTION. 

received  the  honorary  degree  of  Master  of  Arts,  from  Har- 
vard College.  In  1774,  Melvill  married  Priscilla,  daughter 
of  John  Scollay,  a  prominent  Boston  merchant.  He  had 
been  selected  by  General  Warren  as  one  of  his  aids,  just 
before  the  fall  of  the  latter  at  Bunker's  Hill,  and  was  suc- 
cessively captain  and  major  in  Colonel  Thomas  Crafts's 
regiment  of  artillery,  raised  for  the  defence  of  the  State. 
When,  soon  after  the  evacuation  of  the  town,  in  March, 
1776,  the  British  fleet  was  driven  from  Boston  harbor, 
Captain  Melvill  discharged  the  first  guns  at  the  hostile 
ships,  from  his  battery,  at  Nantasket.  He  afterwards  served 
in  the  Rhode  Island  campaigns  of  1777  and  1779.  After 
the  war,  he  was  naval  officer  of  the  port  of  Boston,  in 
1786-89,  and  through  the  influence  of  his  friend,  Samuel 
Adams,  was,  in  the  latter  year,  appointed  inspector  under 
the  United  States  Government,  a  post  which  he  held  until 
made  naval  officer,  in  1811.  President  Jackson  removed 
him  from  this  office  in  1829,  after  which  period  he  was  a 
member  of  the  Massachusetts  House  of  Representatives. 
From  1779  to  1825,  he  was  one  of  the  firewards  of  Boston, 
and  on  retiring  from  his  forty-seven  years'  service,  was  made 
the  recipient  of  a  silver  pitcher  as  a  testimonial  of  the 
appreciation  of  his  services,  by  his  associates.  Major  Mel- 
vill's  long  and  honorable  connection  with  the  Boston  Fire 
Department  began  in  the  good  old  times,  when  the  fire- 
wards  carried  staves,  tipped  at  the  end  with  a  brass  flame, 
and  marshalled  the  bystanders  into  lines  for  passing  buckets 
of  water  to  the  scene  of  conflagration.  One  of  the  town 
engines  was  named  "  Melvill,"  in  honor  of  the  major,  whose 
death  was  finally  caused  by  over-fatigue  at  a  fire  near  his 
house.  He  was  a  Democrat,  and  a  firm  friend  of  Samuel 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxxv 

Adams,  of  whom  he  had  a  small  portrait,  by  Copley,  now  at 
Harvard  University.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was 
president  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Society.  Major 
Melvill  was  a  man  of  sound  judgment  and  strict  integrity. 
He  is  still  remembered  by  our  older  citizens  as  the  last 
to  wear,  in  Boston,  a  cocked  hat  and  small  clothes  —  the 
costume  of  the  Revolution.  Herman  Melville,  a  grandson, 
has  attained  popularity  as  an  author.  The  front  door  of 
Major  Melvill's  residence,  which  formerly  stood  near  the 
easterly  corner  of  Green  and  Staniford  Streets,  now  does 
similar  duty  for  the  house  at  the  corner  of  Bartlett  and 
Lambert  Streets,  Roxbury.  The  accompanying  portrait  is 
from  an  oil  painting  in  the  possession  of  his  grand-daughter, 
Mrs.  Samuel  Downer,  of  Dorchester.  The  beautiful  garden 
at  Downer  Landing,  Hingham,  near  which  is  her  summer 
residence,  perpetuates  the  name  of  this  worthy  and  patriotic 
citizen  of  Boston.  Admitted  member  Mass.  Lodge,  1772. 


WILLIAM    MOLINEUX, 

A  distinguished  and  patriotic  merchant  of  Boston,  died 
there  October  22,  1774  ;  aged  fifty-eight.  Like  Revere  and 
Johonnot,  he  was  of  Huguenot  ancestry.  About  the  year 
1760,  he,  with  William  Phillips  and  others,  established  the 
:'  Manufactory  House,"  on  the  east  side  of  what  is  now 
Hamilton  Place.  Here  the  people  were  taught  spinning 
16 


cxxxvr  INTRODUCTION. 

and  weaving,  free  of  cost,  and  soon  many  were  clad  in 
garments  of  their  own  manufacture.  This  building  was  put 
to  other  uses,  in  1768.  Molineux,  from  the  very  beginning 
of  the  dispute  with  the  mother  country,  was  an  active  and 
influential  Whig.  He  was  a  member  of  the  "  Long  Room 
Club,"  formed  in  1762,  and  of  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  in 
1 765  ;  was  one  of  the  Boston  committee  of  correspondence, 
from  its  origin,  in  1772;  one  of  the  committee,  and  its 
spokesman,  appointed  by  the  Liberty  Tree  meeting,  Novem- 
ber 4,  to  request  the  consignees  of  the  tea  to  resign,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  all  the  public  meetings  that  followed. 
Molineux  and  Dr.  Young  were  the  only  prominent  leaders 
of  the  people  who  were  known  to  have  been  actively  present 
at  the  destruction  of  the  tea.  Molineux  was  a  member  of 
a  committee,  of  which  Samuel  Adams  was  the  chairman,  to 
demand  the  removal  of  the  British  troops  from  Boston. 
John  Adams  relates  that  Molineux  was  obliged  to  march  by 
the  side  of  the  troops,  to  protect  them  from  the  indignation 
of  the  people.  With  the  exception  of  Samuel  Adams,  no 
name  is  oftener  found,  in  connection  with  the  public  acts 
of  the  day,  than  that  of  William  Molineux,  and  his  death,  a 
few  months  before  the  war  broke  out,  was  a  great  loss  to 
the  patriot  cause.  While  the  Boston  Port  Bill  was  under 
discussion  in  the  British  Cabinet,  Governor  Hutchinson  was 
told  by  Lord  Mansfield  that  the  Lords  of  the  Council  had 
their  pens  ready  to  sign  the  warrant  for  the  transportation 
to  England  and  trial  of  Adams,  Molineux  and  others,  for 
high  treason,  but  were  prevented  by  the  doubts  of  the 
Attorney  and  Solicitor-Generals  as  to  the  sufficiency  of  the 
evidence  to  convict  them.  Molineux  resided  at  the  corner 
of  Beacon  and  Mount  Vernon  Streets,  near  John  Hancock, 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxxvn 

where  in  1760  he  built  a  mansion-house  that  was  considered 
as  "quite  splendid"  for  those  days. 


THOMAS    MOORE, 

Son  of  Hugh  Moore,  wharfinger,  on  Fish  Street,  informs  his 
father's  "good  customers,"  in  the  Gazette  of  November  24, 
1773,  that  he  "carries  on  the  business  as  usual,  and  solicits 
their  custom."  Ben.  Russell  speaks  of  seeing  Moore  and 
his  (Russell's)  father  blacking  each  other's  faces  on  the  i6th 
of  December,  1773.  He  died  in  August,  1813;  aged  sixty. 

ANTHONY    MORSE. 

"  Anthony  Morse,  my  father,  afterwards  a  lieutenant  during 
the  Revolutionary  war,  and  Mr.  Joseph  Roby,  now  (1819)  of 
Hanover,  N.  H.,  were  active  in  the  destruction  of  the  tea, 
December  16,  17,73." 

—  Niles'  Acts  and  Principles  of  the  Revolution,  p.  326. 

JOSEPH    MOUNTFORD, 

A  cooper,  on  Prince  Street,  died  in  Pepperill,  Mass.,  May 
n,  1838;  aged  eighty-eight. 

E[LIPHELET   N  [EWELL], 

Of  Charlestown,  repeatedly  informed  Dr.  Joseph  Bartlett, 
author  of  a  historical  sketch  of  that  town,  that  he  was  one 


cxxxvm  INTRODUCTION. 

of  the  Indians  who  destroyed  the  tea  in  Boston  harbor. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew, 
in  1778. 


JOSEPH    PEARSE    PALMER 

Was  the  only  son  of  General  Joseph  Palmer,  a  prominent 
actor  in  the  Revolutionary  drama  in  Massachusetts,  and 
Mary,  the  sister  of  Judge  Richard  Cranch,  who  resided  in 
that  part  of  Braintree  called  Germantown.  Before  the  war 
he  dealt  in  West  India  goods  and  hardware,  at  the  town 
dock.  Of  his  share  in  the  tea  party  his  widow  says :  "  One 
evening,  about  ten  o'clock,  hearing  the  gate  and  door  open, 
I  opened  the  parlor  door,  and  there  stood  three  stout-looking 
Indians.  I  screamed,  and  should  have  fainted,  but  recog- 
nized my  husband's  voice  saying,  '  Don't  be  frightened, 
Betty,  it  is  I.  Wre  have  only  been  making  a  little  salt- 
water tea.'  His  two  companions  were  Foster  Condy  and 
Stephen  Bruce.  Soon  after  this,  Secretary  Flucker  called 
upon  my  husband,  and  said  to  him,  '  Joe,  you  are  so  ob- 
noxious to  the  British  Government,  that  you  had  better 
leave  town.'  Accordingly  we  left  town,  and  went  to  live 
in  part  of  my  father's  house,  in  Watertown."  During  the 
war,  Mr.  Palmer  served  in  Boston  and  in  Rhode  Island,  first 
as  brigade  major,  and  next  as  quartermaster-general.  Soon 
after  his  father's  death,  in  1788,  he  went  to  Vermont,  with 
Colonel  Keith,  to  examine  the  facilities  for  establishing 
themselves  in  some  branch  of  the  iron  business.  Shortly 


INTRODUCTION.  cxxxix 

after  he  reached  Windsor  he  lost  his  life,  having  accidentally 
fallen  from  a  bridge,  then  erecting  over  the  Connecticut. 
He  left  a  numerous  family.  His  daughter,  Mary,  married 
Royal  Tyler,  of  Vt.  Member  Massachusetts  Lodge,  1773. 


JONATHAN    PARKER 

Was  a  Roxbury  farmer,  a  "  high  Son  of  Liberty,"  who  safely 
brought  through  the  British  lines  on  the  Neck,  and  secreted 
in  Muddy  Pond  Woods,  the  two  cannon  which,  by  a  clever 
stratagem,  had  been  taken  from  the  gun-house,  on  Boston 
common,  at  noon-day.  Next  day,  a  party  of  Red  Coats  were 
in  Roxbury  searching  for  them  in  every  direction,  but  in 
vain.  These  are  supposed  to  be  the  same  pieces  now  in 
the  chamber  at  the  top  of  Bunker  Hill  Monument.  Parker 
took  the  guns  from  the  stable  of  the  second  house  west 
from  the  court  house,  on  the  south  side  of  Court  Street. 
He  brought  a  load  of  hay,  and  took  home  a  load  of  stable 
manure,  the  guns  being  in  the  bottom  of  the  wagon. 


JOSEPH    PAYSON 

Was  a  housewright,  on  Foster's  wharf,  in  1789,  and  at 
5  Bennet  Street,  in  1796.  He  was  a  descendant  of  Edward 
Payson,  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Roxbury,  and  his  wife, 
Mary,  a  sister  of  the  Apostle  Eliot,  and  was  born  in  1743. 


CXL  INTRODUCTION. 


SAMUEL    PECK 

Was  a  cooper,  and  in  1789  did  business  at  Hallowell's  ship- 
yard, near  the  foot  of  Milk  Street.  He  was  a  prominent 
Son  of  Liberty,  also  a  leading  and  influential  member  of 
the  North  End  Caucus.  He  was  one  of  the  guard  on  the 
"Dartmouth,"  on  the  night  of  November  30,  1773,  and  on 
the  morning  following  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  his  ap- 
prentices noticed  traces  of  red  paint  behind  his  ears.  He 
was  thought  to  have  been  one  of  the  leaders  in  the  affair. 
He  joined  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew  in  1756. 


JOHN    PETERS, 

A  native  of  Lisbon,  Portugal,  died  in  Philadelphia,  April  23, 
1832,  at  the  great  age  of  one  hundred  years,  five  months  and 
twenty-three  days.  He  was  able  to  attend  to  his  business 
up  to  the  close  of  1831.  He  came  to  America  soon  after 
the  earthquake  of  1755,  and  settled  in  Boston.  He  was 
one  of  the  tea  party  ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Lexington  and 
Bunker  Hill,  —  in  which  latter  he  lost  a  finger,  —  at  Prince- 
ton, Monmouth  and  Trenton.  He  was  also  at  the  capture 
of  Burgoyne  and  of  Cornwallis,  was  again  wounded,  and 
after  being  discharged,  in  1783,  resided  in  Philadelphia, 
where  he  reared  a  numerous  family. 

WILLIAM    PIERCE, 
Born  in   Boston,  December  25,   1744,  died  October   10,   1840. 


INTRODUCTION.  cxu 

He  served  his  time  with  John  Adams,  a  barber,  in  Dock 
Square,  at  the  sign  of  the  "  Great  Boot,"  and  opened  a  shop 
for  himself  in  Marshall  Street,  some  years  before  the  Revo- 
lution. His  shop  was  a  sort  of  exchange  for  the  gossip 
current  at  the  North  End,  and  was  frequented  by  many 
celebrated  residents  of  that  locality.  He  boasted  of  having 
shaved  Franklin,  and  he  stated  that  Franklin  told  him  that 
he  was  born  in  the  house  on  the  corner  of  Union  and 
Hanover  Streets,  at  the  sign  of  the  "  Blue  Ball."  Hewes 
relates  that  Pierce  was  one  of  those  that  boarded  the  ships 
on  December  16,  1773.  He  continued  actively  engaged  in 
his  business  until  the  year  1835,  having  followed  his  pro- 
fession seventy-six  years  ! 


LENDALL    PITTS, 

Youngest  son  of  Hon.  James  Pitts,  a  merchant  and  an 
active  patriot  of  Boston;  born  in  1747,  died  December  31, 
1787,  and  being  captain  of  a  volunteer  company,  was  buried 
with  military  honors.  According  to  Hewes,  Pitts  com- 
manded the  division  of  the  tea  party  that  boarded  the  brig 
"  Beaver,"  and  after  the  affair  was  over,  formed  the  party  in 
military  order,  with  the  aid  of  Major  Barber  and  Colonel 
Proctor,  and  marched  them  back  into  town.  A  solemn 
pledge,  for  the  protection  of  those  engaged  in  this  affair, 
was  entered  into  by  the  committee  of  correspondence,  —  of 
whom  Lendall's  brother,  John  Pitts,  was  one, — -about  a 
week  afterwards,  when  it  was  currently  supposed  that  those 
who  had  borne  a  part  in  that  daring  performance  would 


CXLII  INTRODUCTION. 

be    arrested,    if    discovered,    and    executed    for    treason.       It 
was  worded  as  follows  : 

"  The  subscribers  do  engage  to  exert  our  utmost  influence  to  support  and 
vindicate  each  other,  and  any  person  or  persons  who  may  be  likely  to  suffer  for 
any  noble  efforts  they  may  have  made  to  save  their  country,  by  defeating  the 
operations  of  the  British  Parliament,  expressly  designed  to  extort  a  revenue  from 
the  Colonies  against  their  consent." 

The  names  of  four  members  of  this  family  are  prominently 
associated  with  the  tea  episode  at  Boston.  James  Pitts,  the 
father,  (H.  U.,  1731,)  an  eminent  and  wealthy  merchant,  who, 
as  member  of  the  Governor's  Council,  thwarted  the  chief- 
magistrate,  Hutchinson,  in  his  efforts  to  have  the  tea  landed, 
and  who  died  in  Dunstable,  Mass.,  January  25,  1776;  aged 
sixty-four.  His  sons,  —  JOHN,  born  in  1737,  (H.  U.,  1757,)  a 
selectman,  and  on  the  committee  to  urge  the  consignees  to 
resign ;  an  active  member  of  the  committee  of  correspond- 
ence, of  the  Provincial  Congress  of  1775;  Speaker  of  the 
House  in  1778,  and  member  of  the  senate  in  1780-84,  who 
died  at  Tyngsboro',  Mass.,  in  1815;  SAMUEL,  born  in  1745, 
an  officer  in  the  company  of  cadets,  said  also  to  have  been 
one  of  the  tea  party,  and  LENDALL,  the  leader  of  the  party, 
noted  above,  who  was  clerk  of  the  market  in  1775-6,  and  an 
officer  in  Hancock's  cadets.  The  sons  all  had  Huguenot 
blood  in  their  veins,  their  mother  being  a  sister  of  James 
Bowdoin.  All  were  merchants,  and  active  Sons  of  Liberty, 
and  prior  to  the  Revolution,  were  in  business  together, 
engaged  in  extensive  commercial  transactions.  Pitts's  wharf 
was  just  north  of  Faneuil  Hall  Market.  Pitts  Street  per- 
petuates the  name  and  fame  of  this  noted  family ;  no  one 
of  their  descendants  bearing  the  name  now  surviving  in 
Boston.  The  Pitts  mansion,  a  favorite  place  of  meeting 


INTRODUCTION.  CXLV 

for  the  Boston  patriots,  occupied  the  ground  now  covered 
by  the  Howard  Atheneum.  The  accompanying  portrait  of 
Lendall  Pitts  is  taken  from  a  painting  owned  by  his  grand- 
son, Lendall  Pitts  Cazeau,  of  Roxbury. 

For   many   of   the   above   facts  I    am    indebted  to    the    Pitts    "  Memorial,"  by 
Daniel  Goodwin,  Jr.,  of  Chicago. 


THOMAS    PORTER, 

A    merchant,   formerly  of    Boston,    died    in    Alexandria,  Va., 
in  June,   1800. 


CAPTAIN    HENRY    PRENTISS, 

Born  in  Holliston,  Mass.,  March  27,  1749,  died  in  Medfield, 
Mass.,  August  31,  1821  ;  son  of  Rev.  Joshua,  forty-five  years 
pastor  of  the  Holliston  church.  Captain  Prentiss  served 
during  the  Revolutionary  war,  at  Cambridge,  at  Long  Island, 
and  at  Trenton.  He  was  an  Overseer  of  the  Poor,  in 
Boston,  in  1784;  a  member  of  the  Ancient  and  Honorable 
Artillery  Company  in  1786;  a  sea  captain  in  1789,  and  was 
afterwards  a  merchant  of  Boston.  He,  with  his  brother 
Appleton,  was  one  of  the  first  to  introduce  into  New  Eng- 
land the  art  of  printing  calico,  —  producing  a  coarse  blue 
and  red  article  on  India  cotton.  Their  place  of  business 
was  at  the  corner  of  Buttolph  Street.  Captain  Prentiss' 
17 


CXLVI  INTRODUCTION. 

residence  was  in  a  stone  house,  near  the  head  of  Hanover 
Street,  the  former  residence  of  Benjamin  Hallowell,  Comp- 
troller of  Customs,  which  was  ransacked  at  the  time  Gov. 
Hutchinson's  House  was  mobbed.  Member  Massachusetts 
Lodge,  1789. 


DR.   JOHN    PRINCE 

Was  pastor  of  the  First  Church,  in  Salem,  from  1779  to  his 
death,  June  3,  1836.  He  was  a  native  of  Boston,  and  was 
a  witness  only  of  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  as  he  informed 
Colonel  Russell,  of  the  "  Centinel,"  long  afterward.  Ad- 
mitted member  Massachusetts  Lodge,  nth  January,  1780. 

COLONEL   EDWARD    PROCTOR, 

A  prominent  citizen  and  military  officer  of  Boston,  died 
there  in  November,  1811;  aged  seventy-eight.  He  was  an 
importer  of  West  India  goods,  at  the  sign  of  the  "  Schooner," 
in  Fish  Street,  at  the  North  End,  before  the  war,  after  which 
he  was  in  the  auction  business,  at  No.  i  Union  Street.  He 
was  an  active  patriot,  and  was  placed  on  the  committee  to 
obtain  the  resignation  of  the  consignees  of  the  tea,  and 
commanded  the  guard  on  the  "  Dartmouth,"  on  the  night  of 
November  29,  1773.*  In  1756,  he  joined  the  Ancient  and 

1  The  proclamation  of  the  "  King  of  writing.  The  original  is  in  the  pos- 
the  Mohawks,"  which  accompanies  this  session  of  Mr.  Jeremiah  Colburn,  of 
notice,  appears  to  be  in  Proctor's  hand-  Boston. 


ry^^ 


INTRODUCTION.  cxi.ix 

Honorable  Artillery  Company,  of  which  his  grandfather, 
Edward  Proctor,  had  been  a  member  in  1699;  was  m  the 
service  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  was  a  member  of 
the  committees  of  correspondence  and  of  safety.  He  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Masonic  fraternity  in  1765,  when  he 
joined  St.  Andrew's  Lodge;  was  master  in  1774-76,  and  was 
junior  grand  warden  of  the  Massachusetts  Grand  Lodge  in 
1781.  For  some  years  previous  to  his  death,  he  was  one 
of  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  and  was  a  fireward  in  1784-89. 
Hannah,  his  widow,  died  October  31,  1832,  aged  87. 


COLONEL    HENRY    PURKITT, 

Born  in  Boston,  March  18,  1755,  died  March  3,  1846.  He 
was  educated  at  the  public  schools  of  Boston ;  was  after- 
wards apprenticed  to  Samuel  Peck,  the  cooper,  a  zealous 
"  Son  of  Liberty,"  and  member  of  the  tea  party,  and  was 
himself  active  on  that  occasion,  in  disobedience  to  his 
master's  orders.  His  reminiscences  of  the  affair  have  been 
related  on  a  previous  page.  Enlisting  as  a  soldier  in  the 
Revolutionary  army,  he  served  through  the  war,  and  was 
present  at  Trenton  and  Brandywine,  and  was  at  one  time  a 
sergeant  in  Pulaski's  Cavalry.  After  the  war,  he  carried  on 
his  trade  of  cooper  successfully,  in  connection  with  his 
former  fellow-apprentice,  Dolbear,  in  South  Street.  In  1803, 
appointed  inspector-general  of  pickled  fish,  and  performed 
the  duty  satisfactorily  for  thirty-five  years.  Joining  a  com- 


CL  INTRODUCTION. 

pany  of  cavalry  after  the  war,  he  passed  through  all  the 
grades,  and  rose  to  that  of  colonel.  He  was  many  years  a 
member  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Mechanic  Associa- 
tion ;  became  a  member  of  St.  Andrew's  Royal  Arch 
Chapter  of  Freemasons,  in  1798,  and  was  master  of  St. 
Andrew's  Lodge,  in  1804-5.  "  Uprightness  and  exactness 
were  prominent  traits  of  his  character,  and  universal  love 
and  charity  for  all  mankind  were  sincerely  exhibited  in  his 
social  intercourse.  He  had  troops  of  friends,  but  it  is  not 
known  that  he  ever  had  an  enemy."  In  1834,  a  number  of 
Polish  refugees  arrived  here,  after  the  final  partition  of  their 
native  country.  A  collection  for  their  benefit  was  proposed. 
The  call  was  nobly  responded  to,  and  among  others,  Purkitt 
sent  his  check,  as  follows : 

"  Pay  to  Count  Pulaski,  my  commander  at  the  battle  of  Brandywine,  his 
brethren,  or  bearer,  one  hundred  dollars." 

There  is  in  possession  of  the  family  a  full-length  silhouette 
likeness  of  Purkitt,  and  a  daguerreotype.  The  accompanying 
portrait  is  from  an  oil  painting,  in  the  possession  of  Mr. 
Henry  P.  Kidder,  of  Boston. 


JOHN    RANDALL, 

Born  in  Watertown,  Mass.,  October  2,  1750;    married  Sarah 
Barnard,  3oth  December,   1778. 


^y 

Better  known  as  Colonel  Purkitt. 


"  Uprightness  and  exactness  were  prominent  attributes  of  his  character,  and  universal  love  and  charity  for 
all  mankind  were  sincerely  exhibited  in  his  social  intercourse.  He  had  troops  of  friends,  but  it  is  not  known 
that  he  ever  had  an  enemy."  —  Biographical  Sketches  St.  Andrew's  R.A.C. 


INTRODUCTION.  CLIII 


PAUL    REVERE, 

Born  in  Boston,  January  i,  1735;  died  at  his  residence,  in 
Bennet  Street,  May  10,  1818.  He  was  of  Huguenot  ances- 
try, and  learned  the  goldsmith's  trade  of  his  father.  Articles 
of  silverware,  with  his  engraving,  are  still  extant  in  Boston. 
He  also  engraved  on  copper,  an  art  in  which  he  was  self- 
instructed,  producing  a  portrait  of  his  friend,  the  Rev. 
Jonathan  Mayhew ;  a  picture  emblematical  of  the  Stamp 
Act ;  a  caricature  of  the  "  Seventeen  Rescinders,"  one  of 
Lord  North  forcing  the  tea  down  the  throat  of  America ;  a 
picture  of  the  Massacre  in  King  Street,  and  another  repre- 
senting the  landing  of  the  British  troops  in  Boston,  in  1774. 
There  were  then  but  three  engravers,  besides  Revere,  in 
America.  In  1775,  he  engraved  the  plates,  made  the  press, 
and  printed  the  bills  of  the  paper  money,  which  was  ordered 
by  the  Provincial  Congress  of  Massachusetts.  He  was  sent 
by  this  Congress  to  Philadelphia,  to  obtain  information  re- 
specting the  manufacture  of  gunpowder,  and  on  his  return 
was  able,  simply  from  having  seen  the  process,  to  construct 
a  mill,  which  was  soon  in  successful  operation.  Revere  was 
an  active  patriot  during  the  whole  of  the  struggle  for  Inde- 
pendence. He  was  one  of  those  who  executed,  as  well  as 
planned,  the  daring  scheme  of  destroying  the  tea  in  Boston 
harbor,  and  was  one  of  a  club  of  young  men,  chiefly  me- 
chanics, who  watched  the  movements  of  the  British  troops 
in  Boston.  He  acted  an  important  part  in  rousing  the 
country  around  Boston  on  the  morning  of  the  memorable 
nineteenth  of  April,  1775,  an  event  worthily  commemorated 
in  Longfellow's  poem,  — "  Paul  Revere's  Ride."  Revere  had 


CLIV  INTRODUCTION. 

served  at  Fort  Edward,  near  Lake  George,  as  a  lieutenant 
of  artillery,  in  1756,  and  after  the  evacuation  of  Boston,  was 
commissioned  major  in  Crafts'  artillery  regiment,  raised  for 
the  defence  of  the  State,  in  which  he  attained  the  rank  of 
lieutenant-colonel,  and  remained  in  service  until  the  close 
of  the  war,  after  which  he  resumed  his  business  as  a  gold- 
smith. He  was  in  the  unfortunate  Penobscot  expedition,  in 
1779.  At  a  later  period,  he  erected  an  air-furnace,  in  which 
he  cast  brass  cannon  and  church  bells.  He  also  erected 
extensive  works  at  Canton,  for  rolling  copper  and  casting 
guns,  —  a  business  still  carried  on  there  by  his  successors. 
In  1795  he  assisted  in  laying  the  corner  stone  of  the  State 
House,  at  Boston.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  was  actively 
connected  with  many  benevolent  and  useful  institutions,  and 
was  the  first  president  of  the  Massachusetts  Charitable  Me- 
chanic Association ;  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St. 
Andrew's,  in  1761,  and  grand  master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Massachusetts,  in  1794-96. 


JOSEPH    ROBY 

Resided    in    Prince    Street,  Boston,  in    1807,  but   was    living 
in  Hanover,  N.  H.,  in   1817. 


Was  by  trade  a  mason,  and  died  in   Boston,  in    1778.       His 
son,    the    well-known    journalist,    Colonel    Benjamin    Russell, 


LORD     NORTH     FORCING    THE    TEA     DOWN     THE    THROAT    OK     AMERICA. 


Preserve  union,  and  judge  in  all  causes  amicably  and  mildly,  preferring  peace."  —  PAUL  REVERE,  1795. 


INTRODUCTION.  CLIX 

though  only  a  school-boy  at  the  time,  remembered  seeing, 
through  the  window  of  the  wood-house,  his  father  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Moore,  his  neighbor,  besmearing  each  other's  faces 
with  lampblack  and  red  ochre. 


WILLIAM   RUSSELL. 

William,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Hacker  Russell, 
was  born  in  Boston,  24th  May,  1748,  and  died  7th  March, 
1784,  in  Cambridge,  Mass.  He  was  sometime  usher  in 
Master  Griffiths'  school,  on  Hanover  Street,  below  the 
Orange  Tree.  On  returning  to  his  home,  on  Temple 
Street,  after  the  tea  party,  he  took  off  his  shoes,  and  care- 
fully dusted  them  over  the  fire,  in  order  that  no  tea  should 
remain,  and  saw  every  particle  consumed.  He  afterwards 
taught  school  in  Newton.  Joining  Crafts'  artillery  regi- 
ment, he  served  as  sergeant-major  and  adjutant  in  the  Rhode 
Island  campaign.  He  next  joined  a  privateer,  as  captain's 
clerk,  was  captured,  and  kept  in  Mill  Prison,  Plymouth, 
England,  from  August,  1779,  until  January,  1782.  Again 
in  a  privateer,  he  was  again  taken,  and  this  time  suffered 
confinement  in  the  horrible  prison-ship  "  Jersey,"  at  New 
York.  These  privations  and  sufferings  occasioned  his  early 
death.  His  son,  Colonel  John  Russell,  was  a  publisher  and 
journalist  in  Boston.  He  joined  St.  Andrew's  Lodge  of 
Freemasons  in  1778. 


CLX  INTRODUCTION. 


ROBERT   SESSIONS, 

Whose  interesting  account  of  the  tea  party  appears  on  page 
LXXIX,  was  born  in  Pomfret,  Conn.,  March  15,  1752,  and  died 
in  Hampden,  Mass.,  in  1836.  His  grandfather,  Nathaniel, 
was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Pomfret,  in  1704.  Darius 
Sessions,  Lieutenant-Governor  of  Rhode  Island  at  the  open- 
ing of  the  Revolution,  and  an  active  patriot,  was  his  uncle. 
Robert  Sessions  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army,  attaining 
the  rank  of  lieutenant.  In  1778,  he  married  Anna  Ruggles, 
a  descendant  of  the  Roxbury  family  of  that  name ;  settled  in 
Pomfret,  and  in  1781  removed  to  South  Wilbraham,  now 
Hampden,  Mass.  The  high  estimation  in  which  he  was 
held  by  his  fellow  citizens,  is  evident  from  the  number  of 
offices  of  trust  and  responsibility  in  which  he  was  placed. 
He  was  for  many  years  a  justice  of  the  peace ;  town  clerk 
and  treasurer  twelve  years  ;  representative  in  the  State 
Legislature  for  five  years,  (1814-19,)  and  was  almost  always 
chosen  moderator  of  the  town-meeting.  His  sons,  William 
V.  and  Sumner  Sessions,  are  yet  living,  at  an  advanced  age. 

The  above  facts,  as  well  as  the  narrative  on  page  LXXIX,  were  furnished  by 
my  friends,  Mr.  John  A.  Lewis,  of  Boston,  and  Hon.  William  Robert  Sessions,  the 
well-known  agriculturist,  of  Hampden  County,  and  a  member  of  the  Massachusetts 
Senate  of  1884,  a  grandson  of  Robert. 


JOSEPH    SHED 

Was  born  in   Boston,  June   17,  1732,  and  died  there  October 
1 8,   1812.       He   was    the    son    of    Joseph,    (born    October  26, 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXI 

1698,)  who  was  the  son  of  Zachary,  (born  June  17,  1656,) 
who  was  the  son  of  Daniel,  the  original  settler  of  that  name 
in  Braintree,  and  afterwards  at  Billerica,  Mass.  The  subject 
of  this  notice  was  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  worked  upon 
Faneuil  Hall  during  its  rebuilding,  or  enlargement.  He  was 
associated  with  Samuel  Adams,  and  other  patriots,  before 
and  during  the  Revolutionary  war,  and  later  on  was  an 
ardent  Jeffersonian  Democrat,  —  hating  the  very  name  of 
Federalist.  His  residence  was  on  Milk  Street,  on  the  spot 
now  occupied  by  the  Equitable  Life  Insurance  building. 
At  his  residence  a  party  of  persons  dressed,  who  were  con- 
cerned in.  the  destruction  of  the  tea,  he  being  one  of  the 
number.  His  friend,  Samuel  Adams,  was  often  a  visitor  at 
his  house,  and  his  grandson  has  the  china  punch-bowl  from 
which  the  old  patriot  drank,  when  Independence  was  de- 
clared. During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  kept  a  grocery 
store,  on  the  spot  where  he  lived  so  many  years,  on  Milk 
Street.  He  was  buried  in  the  Granary  burial  ground, 
where  many  other  patriotic  citizens  of  Boston  are  also 
interred. 

Communicated  by  his  grandson,  Mr.  Joseph  G.  Shed,  of  Roxbury. 


JfH 


BENJAMIN   SIMPSON, 

(ErroneAisly  named  Isaac  in  Thatcher's  list  of  1835,)  whose 
story  of  the  tea  party  is  told  on  pages  LXXVII-VIII,  was  a 
bricklayer's  apprentice.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary 

18 


CLXII  INTRODUCTION. 

army  ;  removed  to  Saco,  Maine,  about  1  790,  and  died  at 
Biddeford,  Maine,  March  23,  1849. 

CAPTAIN    PETER   SLATER 

Died  in  Worcester,  Mass.,  October  13,  1831  ;  aged  seventy- 
two.  He  was  apprenticed  to  a  rope-maker,  in  Boston. 
His  master,  apprehensive  that  something  would  take  place 
that  evening  relative  to  the  tea,  then  in  the  harbor,  shut 
Peter  up  in  his  chamber.  He  made  his  escape  from  the 
window  ;  went  to  a  blacksmith's  shop,  where  he  found  a 
man  disguised,  who  told  him  to  tie  a  handkerchief  round  his 
frock,  to  black  his  face  with  charcoal,  and  to  follow  him. 
The  party  soon  increased  to  twenty  persons.  Slater  went 
on  board  the  brig,  with  five  others  ;  two  of  them  brought 
the  tea  upon  deck,  two  broke  open  the  chests,  and  threw 
them  overboard,  while  he,  with  one  other,  stood  with  poles 
to  push  them  under  water.  Not  a  word  was  exchanged 
between  the  parties  from  the  time  they  left  Griffins'  wharf 
till  the  cargo  was  emptied  into  the  harbor,  and  they  returned 
to  the  wharf  and  dispersed.  Slater  served  five  years  in  the 
Revolutionary  army.  A  monument  in  Hope  Cemetery,  New 
Worcester,  erected  by  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Howe,  bears  the 
names  of  Slater,  and  many  of  his  companions  of  the  "  tea 
party." 


Was  one    of    the    party,  of    whom  we    have  no  further  infor 
ai 


INTRODUCTION.  cr.xin 


THOMAS   SPEAR 

Lived  on  Orange  Street,  in  1789.  He  was  one  of  those 
whom  Peter  Mackintosh  remembered  to  have  seen  run  into 
his  master's  blacksmith's  shop,  and  blacken  their  faces  with 
soot. 


SAMUEL   SPRAGUE, 

The  father  of  the  poet,  Charles  Sprague,  was  born  in 
Hingham,  Mass.,  —  the  home  of  four  generations  of  his 
ancestors,  —  December  22,  1753,  and  died  in  Boston,  June 
20,  1844.  He  was  a  mason  by  trade,  and  was  athletic  and 
tall  of  stature.  His  share  in  the  tea  party  he  thus  related 
to  his  son :  "  That  evening,  while  on  my  way  to  visit  the 
young  woman  I  afterwards  married,  I  met  some  lads  hurry- 
ing along  towards  Griffin's  wharf,  who  told  me  there  was 
something  going  on  there.  I  joined  them,  and  on  reaching 
the  wharf  found  the  '  Indians'  busy  with  the  tea  chests. 
Wishing  to  have  my  share  of  the  fun,  I  looked  about  for 
the  means  of  disguising  myself.  Spying  a  low  building, 
with  a  stove-pipe  by  way  of  chimney,  I  climbed  the  roof 
and  obtained  a  quantity  of  soot,  with  which  I  blackened 
my  face.  Joining  the  party,  I  recognized  among  them 
Mr.  Etheridge,  my  master.  We  worked  together,  but 
neither  of  us  ever  afterwards  alluded  to  each  other's  share 
in  the  proceedings."  Sprague  married  Joanna  Thayer,  of 
Braintree,  a  woman  of  great  decision  of  character,  Thev 


CLXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

lived  in  a  two-story  wooden   house,  at    No.  38    Orange  (now 
Washington)  Street,  directly  opposite  Pine  Street. 


COLONEL   JOHN    SPURR 

Born  in  Dorchester,  Mass.,  in  1748,  died  in  Providence,  R.I., 
November  i,  1822  ;  after  December  16,  1773,  he  went  to 
Providence;  joined  the  army  in  1775;  was  commissioned  a 
captain  in  a  Rhode  Island  regiment,  in  1776,  major  in  1777, 
and  served  throughout  the  Revolutionary  war. 

JAMES   STARR, 

Born  in  New  London,  Conn.,  died  in  Jay,  Maine,  in  Janu- 
ary, 1831  ;  aged  ninety  years  and  six  months.  He  served 
in  the  old  French  war ;  afterwards  settled  and  married  in 
Boston,  and  removed  thence  to  Bridgewater.  During  the 
Revolutionary  war,  he  was  taken  prisoner,  carried  to  Halifax, 
and  detained  fourteen  months.  Placed  on  board  a  transport 
for  New  York,  and  destined  to  the  horrible  Jersey  prison- 
ship  ;  after  being  two  days  at  sea,  the  prisoners  rose  on  the 
ship's  company,  captured  the  vessel,  and  took  her  into 
Marblehead. 

CAPTAIN    PHINEAS    STEARNS, 

A  farmer  and  blacksmith  of  Watertown,  born  February  5, 
1736,  died  March  27,  1798.  He  was  a  soldier  at  Lake 


INTRODUCTION.  ci.xv 

George  in  1756,  and  commanded  a  company  at  Dorchester 
Heights,  when  the  British  evacuated  Boston.  He,  with 
Samuel  Barnard  and  John  Randall,  all  of  Watertown,  were 
among  the  famous  Boston  tea  party.  He  was  offered  a 
colonel's  commission  in  the  army,  but  the  care  of  his  young 
motherless  children,  and  of  a  family  of  apprentices  and 
journeymen,  prevented  his  continuing  in  the  public  service. 
He  was  distinguished  for  his  benevolent  and  cheerful  dis- 
position, and  for  strong  common  sense  and  strict  integrity. 
• 

GENERAL   EBENEZER   STEVENS, 

A  distinguished  artillery  officer  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
son  of  Ebenezer  and  Elizabeth  Weld  Stevens,  of  Roxbury, 
was  born  in  Boston,  iith  August,  1751,  and  died  at  his 
residence,  in  Rockaway,  now  Astoria,  N.Y.,  22d  September, 
1823.  He  joined  Paddock's  artillery  company,  which  was 
composed  almost  entirely  of  mechanics,  many  of  whom  were 
active  members  of  the  organization,  which,  under  the  name 
of  Sons  of  Liberty,  did  effective  service  in  opposing  the 
machinations  of  the  crown.  Under  its  first  lieutenant,  Jabez 
Hatch,  (Captain  Paddock  being  a  Tory,)  this  company  vol- 
unteered as  a  watch  on  the  "  Dartmouth."  The  Boston 
Port  Bill  drove  the  mechanics  out  of  the  town,  and  Stevens 
went  to  Providence,  where  he  became  a  partner  with  John 
Crane,  in  the  business  of  carpentering.  Commissioned  first 
lieutenant  of  Crane's  train  of  Rhode  Island  artillery,  8th  May, 
1775,  he  accompanied  it  to  Boston,  and  served  through  the 
siege;  made  captain  in  Knox's  artillery  regiment,  ist  Janu- 
ary, 1776;  took  part  in  the  expedition  to  Canada;  made 
major  gth  November,  1776,  and  in  the  campaign  ending  in 


CLXVI  INTRODUCTION. 

the  surrender  of  Burgoyne;  appointed  lieutenant-colonel  $d 
April,  1778,  and  soon  after  assigned  to  Colonel  Lamb's 
regiment,  with  which  he  took  part  in  Lafayette's  operations 
in  Virginia,  and  at  Yorktown  commanded  the  artillery  alter- 
nately with  Lamb  and  Carrington.  After  the  war,  he  was 
a  leading  merchant  of  New  York ;  member  of  the  New 
York  assembly  in  1800,  an  alderman  in  1802,  and  major- 
general  of  the  State  militia  during  the  war  of  1812.  He 
was  a  founder  of  the  Tammany  and  the  New  England 
Societies,  and  a  member  of  the  Society  of  the  Cincinnati. 
General  Stevens's  connection  with  the  tea  party  is  related 
on  a  previous  page. 

DR.   ELISHA   STORY, 

Born  in  Boston,  December  3,  1743,  died  in  Marblehead, 
Mass.,  August  27,  1805.  His  father,  William  Story,  was 
Register  of  the  Court  of  Admiralty.  His  office,  on  the 
north-westerly  corner  of  State  and  Devonshire  Streets,  was 
broken  into  at  the  time  of  the  Stamp  Act  riots,  on  the 
supposition  that  the  stamps  had  been  deposited  there  for 
distribution,  and  all  the  books  and  papers  carried  into  King 
(now  State)  Street,  and  burned.  Elisha  Story,  fully  sympa- 
thizing with  the  patriots  of  the  day,  joined  the  "  Sons  of 
Liberty ; "  was  one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the  "  Dart- 
mouth," on  the  night  of  November  29,  and  on  the  evening  of 
December  16,  convened,  with  other  disguised  Sons  of  Liberty, 
in  an  old  distillery,  preparatory  to  their  "  little  operation " 
in  tea.  He  was  a  pupil  of  Master  Lovell,  and  studied 
medicine  with  Dr.  Sprague.  He  was  surgeon  of  Colonel 
Little's  Essex  regiment,  and  fought  as  a  volunteer  at  Lex- 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXVII 

ington,  and  at  Bunker's  Hill,  until  obliged  to  remove  a 
wounded  friend  to  Winter  Hill,  where  he  passed  the  night 
in  caring  for  the  wounded.  He  was  with  Washington  at 
Long  Island,  White  Plains  and  Trenton.  In  1774,  he 
removed  from  Boston  to  Maiden,  and  in  1777,  settled  in 
Marblehead,  where  he  practiced  his  profession,  with  success, 
until  his  death.  In  1767,  he  married  Ruth,  daughter  of 
Major  John  Ruddock,  by  whom  he  had  ten  children.  By 
his  second  wife,  Mehitabel,  daughter  of  Major  John  Pedrick, 
he  had  eleven  children,  the  eldest  of  whom  was  Joseph, 
afterwards  Associate-Justice  of  the  United  States  Supreme 
Court.  Isaac,  the  second  son,  was  the  father  of  Judge 
Isaac,  of  Somerville,  Mass.  Dr.  Story  was  a  skilful 
physician,  and  a  man  of  great  benevolence.  "  It  is  said 
that  he  at  one  time  led  a  party  of  men  to  the  Boston 
common,  near  where  is  now  the  Park  Street  gate,  where 
there  was  a  sentinel  guarding  two  brass  field-pieces.  While 
Story  overawed  the  sentinel,  by  presenting  a  pistol  at  his 
head,  and  enjoined  silence  upon  him,  the  others  came  from 
behind  and  dragged  away  the  guns,  one  of  which  was  after- 
wards placed  in  the  Bunker  Hill  Monument." 

Communicated  by  Hon.  Isaac  Story,  of  Somerville. 


COLONEL   JAMES    SWAN, 

Merchant,  politician,  soldier  and  author  before  the  age  of 
twenty-two ;  born  in  Fifeshire,  Scotland,  in  1 754,  died  in 
Paris,  March  18,  1831.  He  came  to  Boston  when  very 
young,  and  in  1772,  when  a  clerk  in  a  counting-house, 
published  "  A  Dissuasion  to  Great  Britain  and  the  Colonies 
from  the  Slave-Trade  to  Africa."  At  the  time  of  the  tea 


CLXVIII  INTRODUCTION. 

party,  in  which  he  was  an  actor,  his  place  of  business  was 
next  to  Ellis  Gray's,  opposite  the  east  end  of  Faneuil  Hall, 
and  he  boarded  in  Hanover  Street,  where  he  and  other 
young  apprentices  disguised  themselves.  Next  morning,  at 
breakfast,  the  tea  in  their  shoes,  and  smooches  on  their 
faces,  led  to  some  mutual  chaffing.  He  was  a  volunteer 
at  Bunker's  Hill ;  was  a  captain  in  Crafts's  artillery  regi- 
ment ;  afterwards  secretary  to  the  Massachusetts  Board  of 
War;  member  of  the  Legislature  in  1778;  Adjutant-General 
of  the  State,  and  at  the  close  of  the  war  was  major  of  a 
cavalry  corps.  He  acquired  a  fortune  in  France  through 
government  contracts,  but  afterwards  became  deeply  involved, 
through  the  dishonesty  of  a  partner,  and  was  confined  in 
St.  Pelagic,  a  debtors'  prison,  in  Paris,  for  many  years,  keep- 
ing up  all  the  while  an  indefatigable  litigation  in  the  French 
courts.  At  the  age  of  seventy  he  was,  by  French  law,  re- 
leased. In  1777,  he  joined  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St. 
Andrew.  He  was  a  man  of  large  enterprise  and  benevo- 
lence, manly  in  person,  and  dignified  in  manner.  He  owned 
a  fine  estate  in  Dorchester,  latterly  the  residence  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Sargent. 


THOMAS    URANN, 

One  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  the  "  Dartmouth  ; "  became 
a  member  of  the  Masonic  Lodge  of  St.  Andrew,  in  1760, 
and  was  master  of  the  Lodge,  in  1771-72.  He  was  a  ship- 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXIX 

joiner,  in  Batterymarch  Street,  near  Hallowell's  ship-yard. 
In  1 784,  he  was  surveyor  of  boards ;  and  was  sealer  of 
woods,  in  1787-90.  By  Mary,  his  wife,  whom  he  married 
in  1750,  he  had  thirteen  children,  nine  of  whom  survived 
him.  His  will  is  dated  May  7,  1791. 


CAPTAIN    JOSIAH    WHEELER 

Was  a  house-wright,  who  lived  in  half  a  double  house, 
on  Orange  (now  Washington)  Street,  west  side,  between 
Pleasant  and  Warrenton  Streets.  The  other  half  was 
occupied  by  Sprague,  also  of  the  tea  party.  On  the  after- 
noon of  December  16,  1773,  Mrs.  Wheeler  became  aware 
that  there  was  something  unusual  on  her  husband's  mind. 
It  was  late  when  he  returned  home  that  evening,  but  she 
sat  up  for  him,  and  as  he  pulled  off  his  long  boots,  a 
quantity  of  tea  fell  on  the  floor,  revealing  the  cause  of  his 
absence.  Seeing  the  tea,  a  female  neighbor,  who  had  sat 
up  with  Mrs.  Wheeler  to  keep  her  company,  in  her  hus- 
band's absence,  exclaimed,  "  Save  it ;  it  will  make  a  nice 
mess."  Taking  down  her  broom,  this  patriotic  woman 
swept  it  all  into  the  fire,  saying,  "  Don't  touch  the  cursed 
stuff."  Wheeler  commanded  a  company  of  minute-men  at 
the  opening  of  the  Revolution,  most  of  whom  were  skilled 
carpenters  and  joiners,  and  by  Washington's  order,  he  super- 
intended the  erection  of  the  forts,  on  Dorchester  Heights. 
He  was  also  employed  in  building  the  State  House,  in 
Boston.  He  died  in  Boston,  in  August,  1817;  aged  seventy- 
four.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Carney,  was  living  in  1873,  at 


CLXX  INTRODUCTION. 

Sheepscot,  Maine,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six.  George  W. 
Wheeler,  a  grandson,  many  years  City  Treasurer  of  Wor- 
cester, is  now  (1884)  living  in  that  city.  Captain  Wheeler 
was  one  of  the  volunteer  guard  on  board  the  "  Dartmouth." 

JEREMIAH    WILLIAMS 

Was  a  blacksmith,  who  resided  in  the  old  mansion,  yet 
standing,  near  Hog  Bridge,  in  Roxbury,  known  as  the  "John 
Curtis  House."  He  was  the  brother  of  Colonel  Joseph,  a 
distinguished  citizen,  and  the  father  of  Major  Edward  Pay- 
son  Williams,  an  officer  of  the  Revolutionary  army,  who 
died  in  the  service. 

THOMAS   WILLIAMS, 

Also  of  Roxbury,  was  one  of  the  minute-men  in  Captain 
Moses  Whiting's  company,  at  Lexington.  He,  with  his 
brother-in-law,  Thomas  Dana,  Jr.,  and  other  Roxbury  men, 
rendezvoused  at  the  house  of  his  father,  John  Williams, 
preparatory  to  the  tea  party,  and  returning  home,  Williams 
and  Dana  refused  to  join  in  sacking  the  house  of  a  Tory, 
regarding  it  as  no  part  of  their  enterprise.  In  1812,  Wil- 
liams settled  in  Cazenovia,  N.  Y.,  and  died  in  Utica,  N.  Y., 
July  31,  1817;  aged  sixty-three. 

NATHANIEL   WILLIS, 

Journalist,  born  in  Boston,  February  7,  1755,  died  near 
Chillicothe,  O.,  April  i,  1831.  After  serving  an  apprentice- 
ship in  a  printing-office,  in  Boston,  he  became  one  of  the 


INTRODUCTION.  ci.xxi 

proprietors  and  publishers  of  the  "  Independent  Chronicle," 
a  leading  political  journal,  from  1776  to  1784.  He  subse- 
quently issued  the  first  newspaper  ever  published  in  Ohio, 
the  "  Scioto  Gazette,"  and  was  for  several  years  State  printer 
of  Ohio.  His  son,  Nathaniel,  r.lso  a  journalist,  was  the 
father  of  Nathaniel  P.  Willis,  Richard  Storrs  Willis,  and 
Sarah  Payson  Willis,  ("Fanny  Fern,")  afterwards  Mrs. 
Parton.  Member  of  St.  Andrew's  Lodge  in  1779. 


JOSHUA   WYETH, 

Whose  relation  is  given  on  a  preceding  page,  was  the  son 
of  Ebenezer  Wyeth,  of  Cambridge,  and  was  born  there  in 
October,  1758.  He  served  in  the  Revolutionary  army; 
afterwards  removed  to  the  west,  and  was  residing  in  Cin- 
cinnati, in  1827. 


DR.    THOMAS    YOUNG, 

A  physician,  was  a  conspicuous  figure  in  the  early  Revolu- 
tionary movements  in  Boston.  He  was  the  first  president 
of  the  North  End  Caucus,  at  which  measures  of  importance 
to  the  town  were  initiated  and  discussed,  and  delivered  the 
first  oration  commemorative  of  the  Boston  Massacre,  March  5, 
1771,  at  the  Manufactory  House,  on  Tremont  Street.  He 
was  an  original  member  of  the  Boston  committee  of  corres- 
pondence, whose  work  was  so  important  in  uniting  the 
Colonies,  and  was  a  talented  and  vigorous  contributor  to 
the  papers  of  the  day,  and  to  the  Royal  American  Maga- 


CLXXII  INTRODUCTION. 

zine,  on  medical,  political  and  religious  topics.  He  was  a 
popular  speaker  in  the  public  meetings  of  the  day,  and  to 
him  is  attributed  the  first  public  suggestion  of  throwing  the 
tea  overboard.  He  was  John  Adams's  family  physician,  and 
an  army  surgeon,  in  1776,  and  was  afterwards  a  resident  of 
Philadelphia.  Several  spirited  letters  from  his  pen  may  be 
found  in  the  "  Life  and  Times  of  General  John  Lamb." 
"  Tea,"  writes  Young  in  the  "  Evening  Post,"  "  is  really  a 
slow  poison,  and  has  a  corrosive  effect  upon  those  who 
handle  it.  I  have  left  it  off  since  it  became  a  political 
poison,  and  have  since  gained  in  firmness  of  constitution. 
My  substitute  is  camomile  flowers." 


It  is  not  long,  since  an  eminent  Englishman,  visiting 
Boston,  asked  the  committee  of  the  city  government,  who 
attended  him,  to  point  out  the  place  where  the  tea  was 
thrown  overboard.  He  was  taken  to  a  distant  wharf,  known 
by  its  form  as  the  T,  and  popularly  associated  with  that 
event  from  the  similarity  of  sound.  Boston  has  appropriately 
marked  many  of  her  historical  sites  ;  surely  the  spot  ren- 
dered forever  memorable  by  the  bold  deed  of  the  Sons  of 
Liberty,  on  December  16,  1773,  ought  not  longer  to  remain 
unmarked.  No  stranger,  at  all  familiar  with  American  his- 
tory, would  leave  unvisited  the  scene  of  an  event  at  once 
so  unique  in  its  character,  and  so  important  in  its  conse- 
quences. The  precise  locality  is  definitely  known,  and  a 
tablet,  suitably  inscribed,  or  an  enduring  monument  of  some 
kind,  should  be  placed  there  without  further  delay. 


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LOCATION     OF     GRIFFIN'S    (NOW     LIVERPOOL)    WHARF,     WHERE    THE 
TEA-SHIPS     LAY. 

In  this  diagram  the  old  boundaries  are  designated  by  dotted  lines.  The  place  where  the  tea-ships  lay,  at 
the  foot  of  Griffin's  wharf,  is  coincident  with  the  lower  end  of  the  large  coal-sheds  of  Messrs.  Chapm  &  Co., 
the  present  owners  of  the  wharf.  They  have  extended  and  widened  the  wharf,  and  have  built  a  three-story 
brick  block  at  its  head.  A  mural  tablet  might  be  set  in  the  front  of  the  centre!  building,  at  a  small  expense. 
The  wharf  should  be  rechristened  "Tea  Party  Wharf." 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXXIII 


A    BALLAD    OF    THE    BOSTON    TEA    PARTY. 

BY   DR.    OLIVER   WENDELL    HOLMES. 

No  !   never  such  a  draught  was  pourea 

Since  Hebe  served  with  nectar 
The  bright  Olympians  and  their  Lord, 

Her  over-kind  protector  ; 
Since  Father  Noah  squeezed  the  grape 

And  took  to  such  behaving, 
As  would  have  shamed  our  grandsire  ape, 

Before  the  days  of  shaving ; 
No !   ne'er  was  mingled  such  a  draught, 

In  palace,  hall,  or  arbor, 
As  freemen  brewed,  and  tyrants  quaffed, 

That  night  in  Boston  harbor  ! 
It  kept  King  George  so  long  awake, 

His  brain  at  last  got  addled, 
It  made  the  nerves  of  Britain  shake 

With  seven  score  millions  saddled ; 
Before  that  bitter  cup  was  drained 

Amid  the  roar  of  cannon, 
The  western  war-cloud's  crimson  stained 

The  Thames,  the  Clyde,  the  Shannon; 
Full  many  a  six-foot  grenadier 

The  flattened  grass  had  measured. 
And  many  a  mother  many  a  year 

Her  tearful  memories  treasured. 
Fast  spread  the  tempest's  darkening  pall, 

The  mighty  realms  were  troubled, 
The  storm  broke  loose,  but  first  of  all 

The  Boston  tea-pot  bubbled ! 

An  evening  party,  —  only  that, 

No  formal  invitation, 
No  gold-laced  coat,  no  stiff  cravat, 

No  feast  in  contemplation ; 
No  silk-robed  dames,  no  fiddling  band, 

No  flowers,  no  songs,  no  dancing  ! 


CLXXIV  INTRODUCTION. 

A  tribe  of  red  men,  —  axe  in  hand, — 

Behold  the  guests  advancing ! 
How  fast  the  stragglers  join  the  throng, 

From  stall  and  work-shop  gathered ; 
The  lively  barber  skips  along 

And  leaves  a  chin  half-lathered ; 
The  smith  has  flung  his  hammer  down, 

The  horse-shoe  still  is  glowing, 
The  truant  tapster  at  the  Crown 

Has  left  a  beer-cask  flowing ; 
The  coopers'  boys  have  dropped  the  adze, 

And  trot  behind  their  master ; 
Up  run  the  tarry  ship-yard  lads;  — 

The  crowd  is  hurrying  faster. 
Out  from  the  mill-pond's  purlieus  gush, 

The  streams  of  white-faced  millers, 
And  down  their  slippery  alleys  rush 

The  lusty  young  Fort-Hillers. 
The  rope-walk  lends  its  'prentice  crew, 

The  Tories  seize  the  omen  ; 
"  Ay,  boys  !   you'll  soon  have  work  to  do 

For  England's  rebel  foemen, 
'  King  Hancock,'  Adams,  and  their  gang. 

That  fire  the  mob  with  treason, — 
When  these  we  shoot,  and  those  we  hang, 

The  town  will  come  to  reason." 
On  —  on  to  where  the  tea-ships  ride  ! 

And  now  their  ranks  are  forming,  — 
A  rush  and  up  the  Dartmouth's  side, 

The  Mohawk  band  is  swarming ! 
See  the  fierce  natives !   what  a  glimpse 

Of  paint  and  fur  and  feather, 
As  all  at  once  the  full-grown  imps 

Light  on  the  deck  together ! 
A  scarf  the  pig-tail's  secret  keeps, 

A  blanket  hides  the  breeches, — 
And  out  the  cursed  cargo  leaps, 

And  overboard  it  pitches ! 

O  woman,  at  the  evening  board, 
So  gracious,  sweet  and  purring, 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXXV 

So  happy  while  the  tea  is  poured, 

So  blest  while  spoons  are  stirring, 
What  martyr  can  compare  with  thee  ? 

The  mother,  wife,  or  daughter,  — 
That  night,  instead  of  best  Bohea, 

Condemned  to  milk  and  water! 

Ah,  little  dreams  the  quiet  dame, 

Who  plies  with  rack  and  spindle, 
The  patient  flax,  how  great  a  flame 

Yon  little  spark  shall  kindle ! 
The  lurid  morning  shall  reveal 

A  fire  no  king  can  smother, 
When  British  flint  and  Boston  steel 

Have  clashed  against  each  other ! 
Old  charters  shrivel  in  its  track, 

His  worship's  bench  has  crumbled, 
It  climbs  and  clasps  the  Union  Jack,  — 

Its  blazoned  pomp  is  humbled. 
The  flags  go  down  on  land  and  sea, 

Like  corn  before  the  reapers ; 
So  burned  the  fire  that  brewed  the  tea 

That  Boston  served  her  keepers  ! 

The  waves  that  wrought  a  country's  wreck 

Have  rolled  o'er  Whig  and  Tory ; 
The  Mohawks  on  the  Dartmouth's  deck 

Shall  live  in  song  and  story. 
The  waters  in  the  rebel  bay 

Have  kept  the  tea-leaf  savor; 
Our  old  North-Enders  in  their  spray 

Still  taste  a  Hyson  flavor. 
And  Freedom's  tea-cup  still  o'erflows, 

With  ever-fresh  libations, 
To  cheat  of  slumber  all  her  foes, 

And  cheer  the  wakening  nations  !  " 


CLXXVI  INTRODUCTION. 


COMMEMORATIVE    VERSES. 


FRAGMENT  OF  A  RALLYING  SONG  OF  THE  TEA 
PARTY  AT  THE  GREEN  DRAGON. 

Rally  Mohawks  !   bring  out  your  axes, 
And  tell  King  George  we'll  pay  no  taxes 

On  his  foreign  tea ; 

His  threats  are  vain,  and  vain  to  think 
To  force  our  girls  and  wives  to  drink 

His  vile  Bohea ! 
Then  rally  boys,  and  hasten  on 
To  meet  our  chiefs  at  the  Green  Dragon. 

Our  Warren's  there,  and  bold  Revere, 
With  hands  to  do,  and  words  to  cheer, 

For  liberty  and  laws ; 

Our  country's  "  braves  "  and  firm  defenders 
Shall  ne'er  be  left  by  true  North-Enders 

Fighting  Freedom's  cause  ! 
Then  rally  boys,  and  hasten  on 
To  meet  our  chiefs  at  the  Green  Dragon. 


A    TEA     PARTY    BALLAD. 

Just  by  beauteous  Boston  lying 
On  the  gently  swelling  flood  ; 

Without  Jack  or  streamers  flying, 
Three  ill-fated  tea-ships  rode. 

Just  as  glorious  Sol  was  setting, 
On  the  wharf,  a  numerous  crew 

Sons  of  Freedom,  fear  forgetting, 
Suddenly  appeared  in  view. 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXXVII 

Armed  with  chisel,  axe  and  hammer,  — 

Weapons  new  for  warlike  deed ; 
Towards  the  herbage-freighted  vessels, 

They  approached  with  dauntless  speed. 

O'er  their  heads  aloft  in  mid  sky, 

Three  bright  angel  forms  were  seen  ; 
This  was  Hampden,  —  that  was  Sidney, 

With  fair  Liberty  between. 

Soon  they  cried,  "  Your  foes  you'll  banish, 

Soon  the  glory  shall  be  won  ; 
Nor  shall  setting  Phoebus  vanish, 

Ere  the  matchless  deed  be  done  !  " 

Quick  as  thought  the  ships  were  boarded, 

Hatches  burst  and  chests  displayed ; 
Axe  and  hammers  help  afforded,  — 

What  a  glorious  crash  they  made  ! 

Quick  into  the  deep  descended, 

Cursed  weed  of  China's  coast ; 
Thus  at  once  our  fears  were  ended,  — 

Freemen's  rights  shall  ne'er  be  lost ! 


A    FAREWELL    TO    TEA. 

(From    Thomas's   "Massachusetts  Spy." ) 

Farewell,  the  tea-board  with  its  equipage 

Of  cups  and  saucers,  cream-bucket  and  sugar-tongs, 

The  pretty  tea-chest  also  lately  stored 

With  Hyson,  Congo,  and  best  Double  Fine. 

Full  many  a  joyous  moment  have  I  sat  by  you 

Hearing  the  girls  tattle,  the  old  maids  talk  scandal, 

And  the  spruce  coxcomb  laugh  —  at  maybe  nothing. 

No  more  shall  I  dish  out  the  once-loved  liquor, 

Though  now  detestable ; 

Because  I'm  taught  —  and  I  believe  it  true, 

Its  use  will  fasten  slavish  chains  upon  my  country ; 

And  Liberty's  the  goddess  I  would  choose 

To  reign  triumphant  in  America. 


CLXXVIII  INTRODUCTION. 


GEN.   JOSEPH    WARREN 

And  the  memorable  Suffolk  County  Resolves  of  1774. 

The  mansion  where  the  famous  Suffolk  County  Resolves 
were  passed,  September  9,  1774,  is  still  standing.  It  is 
situated  in  Milton,  Mass.,  a  few  doors  from  the  Boston  and 
Milton  line,  on  the  Quincy  road.  It  is  a  low,  two-story 
double  house,  20  x  40  feet,  with  the  main  door  in  its  centre, 
and  a  chimney  on  each  end.  In  its  front  there  is  inserted 
a  marble  tablet,  14  x  28  inches,  with  the  following  inscription: 

"IN   THIS    MANSION, 

On  the  Qth  day  of   Sept.,  1774,  at  a  meeting  of  the  delegates   of   every  town  and 
district  in  the  County  of  Suffolk,  the   memorable  Suffolk   Resolves  were  adopted. 

They  were  reported  by  Maj.-Gen.  Warren,  who  fell in  their  defence  in  the 

battle  of  Bunker  Hill,  June  17,  1775. 

They  were  approved  by  the  members  of  the  Continental  Congress  at  Carpenter's 
Hall,  Phil*.,  on  the  17^  Sept.,  1774. 

The  Resolves  to  which  the  immortal  patriot  here  first  gave  utterance,  and  the 
heroic  deeds  of  that  eventful  day  on  which  he  fell,  led  the  way  to  American 
Independence. 

'Posterity  will  acknowledge  that  virtue  which  preserved  them  free  and  happy.'" 

In  Warren's  oration,  March  5,  1772,  more  than  two  years 
before  these  Resolves  were  passed,  the  spirit  of  liberty 
burned  within  his  heart.  Nine  months  after  these  Resolves 
the  battle  took  place,  which  finally  resulted  in  the  birth  of 
American  freedom.  See  portrait,  page  XLVII. 


This  print  shows  the  Major  in  his  Continental  hat,  the  last  he  wore ;  now  carefully  preserved  and  in 
possession  of  Mr.  John  L.  D.  Wolfe,  Tremont  Street,  Boston,  neat  Brookline  and  Boston  line,  who  has 
kindly  allowed  us  to  sketch  it  for  this  work. 


INTRODUCTION.  CLXXXIII 

JOSEPH    LOVERING.1 

Respecting  Mr.  Lovering's  connection  with  the  Tea  Party, 
Mr.  George  W.  Allan,  of  West  Canton  Street,  Boston,  now 
eighty-two  years  of  age,  relates  that  about  the  year  1835, 
he  frequently  conversed  with  that  gentlemen,  who  told  him 
that  on  the  evening  of  December  16,  1773,  when  he  was 
fifteen  years  of  age,  he  held  the  light  in  Crane's  carpenter's 
shop,  while  he  and  others,  fifteen  in  number,  disguised 
themselves  preparatory  to  throwing  the  tea  into  Boston  har- 
bor. He  also  said  that  some  two  hundred  persons  joined 
them  on  their  way  to  the  wharf,  where  the  tea-ships  lay. 
Mr.  George  H.  Allan,  the  son  of  George  W.  Allan,  received 
a  similar  statement  from  Mr.  Lovering,  a  short  time  before 
the  latter's  death,  which  occurred  June  13,  1848,  at  the  age 
of  eighty-nine  years  and  nine  months. 

Mr.  Lovering  appears  to  have  been  the  youngest  person 
connected  with  this  affair,  of  whom  we  have  any  knowledge. 
His  boyish  curiosity  led  him  to  accompany  the  party  to  the 
scene  of  operations  at  Griffin's  wharf,  and  on  the  following 
morning  he  was  closely  questioned  and  severely  reprimanded 
by  his  parents,  for  being  out  after  nine  o'clock  at  night, 
as  they  were  strict  in  their  requirement  that  he  should  be 
in  bed  at  that  hour. 

His  son,  Mr.  N.  P.  Lovering,  now  seventy-seven  years  of 
age,  resides  in  Boston,  and  is  treasurer  of  the  Connecticut 
and  Passumpsic  River  Railroad  Company.  To  this  gentle- 
man, and  to  his  grand-daughter,  Mrs.  C.  D.  Bradlee,  Boston, 
we  are  under  obligation  for  the  copy  of  a  photograph  from 
Mr.  Lovering's  oil-painting  of  his  father. 

lSee  ante  pp.  XLIX.,  cvi. 


CLXxxrv  INTRODUCTION. 


BENJAMIN    FRANKLIN 

Was  born  in  Boston,  1 706 ;  died  in  Philadelphia,  in  1 790, 
and  was  buried  in  Christ  Churchyard.  A  small  marble  slab, 
level  with  the  ground,  marks  the  spot.  "  No  monumental 
display  for  me,"  was  his  request  as  expressed  in  his  will. 

Some  years  before  his  death  he  wrote  his  own  epitaph. 
His  usefulness  to  his  country  during  the  Revolutionary 
period  will  warrant  us  in  giving  it  place  in  our  "  Tea 
Leaves  :  "  A.  o.  c. 

The  body  of 

BENJAMIN     FRANKLIN,     PRINTER, 

Like  the  cover  of  an  old  book, 

its  contents  torn  out, 
And  stript  of  its  lettering  and  gilding, 

Lies  here,  food  for  worms. 

Yet  the  work  itself  shall  not  be  lost, 

For  it  will  (as  he  believed)  appear  once  more 

in  a  new 

and  a  more  beautiful  edition 

corrected  and  amended 

by  the  Author. 

It  is  believed  that  Benjamin  Franklin  was  made  a  Free- 
mason in  St.  John's  Lodge,  of  Philadelphia,  early  in  the 
year  1731.  In  1734  he  printed  and  published  the  first 
Masonic  book  ever  issued  in  America,  being  the  work 
known  as  "Anderson's  Constitution  of  1723."  Copies  are 
now  exceedingly  rare,  and  readily  sell  for  fifty  dollars  each. 
One  is  now  in  the  library  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  Massa- 
chusetts, in  an  excellent  state  of  preservation. 

SERENO  D.  NICKERSON, 

Recording  Grand  Secretary,  Grand  Lodge  of  Mass. 


"  As  a  philosopher  he  ranks  high.      In  his  speculations  he  seldom  lost  sight  of   common  sense,  or  yielded 
up  his  understanding  either  to  enthusiasm  or  authority."  —  GOODRICH. 


LETTERS    AND    DOCUMENTS. 


LETTERS    AND    DOCUMENTS. 


No.    i. 
LETTER   FROM    MR.   WILLIAM    PALMER. 

To  the  DireElors  of  the  Eaft  India  Company} 

Gentlemen : 

As  the  A61  allowing  a  Drawback  of  the  whole  of 
the  cuftoms  paid  on  tea,  if  exported  to  America,  is  now 
paffed,  in  which  there  is  a  claufe  empowering  the  Lords  of 
the  Treafury  to  grant  licences  to  the  India  Company,  to 
export  tea,  duty  free,  to  foreign  States,  or  America,  having 
at  the  time  of  granting  fuch  licences  upwards  of  ten  millions 
of  pounds  in  their  warehoufes,  and  as  the  prefent  stock  of 

1  The  East  India  Company  was   a  fa-  pire    in    India.      Its    monopoly    of    the 

mous   joint    stock    trading    corporation,  China  trade  was  abolished  in  1833,  and 

formed  in  England  early  in    the  seven-  the  Company  was   then  deprived  of   its 

teenth  century,  to    carry    on    commerce  original  character  as  a  commercial  asso- 

with  the  East  Indies.     They  established  ciation.      The    Sepoy   Mutiny,   in    1857, 

stations  in  various  places,  and  in  1702,  combined    with    other    causes,    induced 

were  newly  chartered   as  "The    United  Parliament  to   transfer  the  dominion  of 

Company  of    Merchants  Trading  to  the  India  to  the  Crown.      This  change  was 

East  Indies."     The   executive  power  of  effected  in  1858,  after  strenuous  opposi- 

the  Company  was  vested  in   a  court  of  tion  from  the   Company.     Trading  com- 

twenty-four    directors,    each     of     whom  panics    to    the    East    Indies    were    also 

must    own   ^2000   of    stock,    and    held  chartered  by  Holland,  France,  Denmark, 

office  four  years.        This    Company  be-  and  Sweden  ;   that  of  Holland  being  the 

came    a    great    territorial    power,    and  oldest, 
laid  the  foundation  of   the    British  Em- 


190  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

tea  is  not  only  near  feventeen  million,  but  the  quantity 
expected  to  arrive  this  feafon  does  alfo  confiderably  exceed 
the  ordinary  demand  of  twelve  months,  and  the  expediency 
of  exporting  tea  to  foreign  States  having  been  confidered,  I 
prefume  to  lay  before  this  Court  the  following  extracts,  &c., 
from  letters  relative  to  the  confumption  in  America,  and 
calculation  of  advantages  attending  the  exportation  of  tea 
by  licence,  and  as  an  affurance  the  fame  are  formed  upon 
fome  experience  of  this  trade  (having  not  only  been  con- 
cerned in  a  great  part  of  the  tea  which  has  been  fhipped 
to  America  fince  the  allowance  of  the  drawback,  in  1767; 
but  being  now  about  to  repurchafe  at  your  enfuing  fale  no 
fmall  quantity  of  Bohea  tea  for  the  fame  account,)  I  am 
defirous,  at  my  own  hazard,  to  include  in  fuch  purchafe,  an 
affortment  of  all  other  kinds,  viz.:  Congou,  Souchong  and 
Hyfon,  but  more  particularly  the  feveral  fpecies  of  Singlo, 
namely,  Hyfon,  Skin,  Twankay  and  Firft  Sort,  from  a  con- 
viction that,  by  degrees,  the  confumption  of  thefe  fpecies, 
alfo  and  particularly  Singlo  tea,  might  be  introduced  into 
America,  at  leaft  so  far  for  the  benefit  of  the  Company, 
as  in  part  to  relieve  them  from  the  difagreeable  neceffity, 
they  will,  without  fome  fuch  vend,  be  fubject  to,  of  forcing 
that  fpecies  of  tea  to  market,  before  it  is  greatly  damaged 
by  age,  provided  you  are  of  opinion  the  fame  may  poffibly 
tend  to  the  advantage  of  the  Company  ;  or,  mould  it  be 
the  opinion  of  this  Court,  an  immediate  confignment  mould 
take  place,  I  am  ready  to  give  fuch  affiftance  towards  carry- 
ing the  fame  into  execution  as  may  be  thought  moft  con- 
ducive to  the  intereft  of  the  Company,  together  with  fuch 
fecurity  as  the  nature  of  the  truft  may  require.  In  the 
profecution  of  thefe  confignments,  I  would  propofe  to  obtain 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  191 

a  more  exact  computation  of  the  actual  confumption  ;  what 
quantity  might  probably  find  a  sale  there,  and  the  moft 
probable  means  of  succefs  in  fuch  fales,  whether  by  waiting 
for  a  demand  in  the  ordinary  way,  or  by  public  fales  there ; 
conducted  upon  the  outlines  of  thofe  made  in  England,  by 
fixing  a  future  day  of  payment,  and  by  a  reftriction  in  fell- 
ing any  future  quantity  for  a  limited  time,  but  particularly 
(under  my  mode)  in  what  manner,  and  within  what  time 
affurances  can  be  given  by  remittances  being  made  on 
account  of  fuch  fales. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  your  humble  servant, 

WM.  PALMER. 
London,   iQth   May,   1773. 


EXTRACTS    FROM    LETTERS,  &c.,  TO    PROVE  THE  STATE  OF  THE 
TEA  TRADE  IN  AMERICA. 

Extract  from  a  Letter  from  Bofton,  dated  2gth  April,  ////, 
in  Anfwer  to  a  Consignment  made  in  February,  ////,  at 
js.  id.,  with  the  whole  drawback  of  £23  i8s.  //^  d.  pr  cent.  : 


"  Were  it  not  for  the  Holland  tea,  the  vent  of  Englifh 
.would  have  anfwered  your  expectation  here,  but  the  profit 
is  immenfe  upon  the  Holland  tea,  which  fome  fay  coft  but 
i8d.,  and  the  3d.  duty  here  is  faved.  Many  hundred  chefts 
have  been  imported.  What  is  fhipped  may  go  off  in  time, 
without  lofs,  for  there  muft  be  buyers  of  Englifh  tea  ;  the 
tranfportation  of  the  Dutch  by  water  being  attended  with 
much  trouble  and  rifk." 


192  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


Extratt  from  a  Letter  from  Bofton,  dated  nth  July, 

'  So  much  tea  has  been  imported  from  Holland,  that  the 
importers  from  England  have  been  obliged  to  fell  for  little 
or  no  profit.  The  Dutch  traders,  it  is  faid,  had  their  firft 
teas  at  i8d.  pr  lb.,  the  last  at  2S. ;  either  is  much  cheaper 
than  from  England,  and  they  fave  the  3d.  duty  here.  The 
Company  muft  keep  theirs  nearer  the  prices  in  Holland. 
The  confumption  is  prodigious." 


Extract  from  a  Letter  from  Bofton,  2d  Sepr.,  ////  : 

"  The  confumption  of  Bohea  tea  thro'  the  Continent 
increafes  every  year.  It  is  difficult  for  us  to  fay  how  great 
it  is  at  prefent.  We  imagine  there  may  be  confumed  in 
this  Province,  which  is  perhaps  a  feventh  part  of  the  Con- 
tinent, 3000  chefts  in  a  year.  We  are  fure  nothing  can 
difcourage  the  running  of  it  but  the  reducing  the  price  as 
low,  or  lower,  than  it  was  two  or  three  years  paft  in  Eng- 
land" 


Extract  from    a    Letter  from    Bofton,  (  MeJJrs.  Hutchinfon,) 
dated  loth  Sepr.,  777  /  : 

"  From  a  more  particular  eftimate  of  the  confumption 
we  are  of  opinion,  the  two  towns  of  Bofton  and  Charleftown 
confume  a  cheft,  or  about  340  pounds  of  tea,  one  day  with 
another.  Thefe  two  towns  are  not  more  than  one-eighth^ 
perhaps  not  more  than  one-tenth,  part  of  the  Province. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  193 

Suppofe  they  confume  but  300  chefts  in  a  year,  and  allow 
they  are  but  one-eighth,  it  will  make  2400  chefts  a  year  for 
the  whole  Province.  This  Province  is  not  one-eighth  part 
of  the  Colonies,  and  in  the  other  governments,  efpecially 
New  York,  they  confume  tea  in  much  greater  proportion 
than  in  this  Province.  In  this  proportion,  the  confumption 
may  be  eftimated  at  19,200  chefts  per  annum,  or  upwards 
of  fix  millions  of  pounds.  Yet  at  New  York  or  Penfylvania 
they  import  no  teas  from  England,  and  at  Rhode  Ifland 
very  little.  Here  we  find  the  Dutch  traders  continually 
gaining  ground  upon  us.  If  teas  do  not  fall  with  you 
before  the  fpring  fhippings,  we  fear  the  Dutch  will  carry 
away  all  the  trade  of  the  Colonies  in  this  article." 

Extratt  of  a  Letter  from  Bofton,  dated  nth  Sepr.,  IJJ2 : 

"  We  have  delayed  anfwering  your  laft  enquiries  relative 
to  the  tea  concern,  in  hopes  of  being  able  to  form  a  better 
judgment,  but  to  no  great  purpofe ;  the  great  importation 
from  Holland,  principally  through  New  York  and  Philadel- 
phia, keeps  down  the  price  here,  and  confequently  the  fale 
of  teas  from  England.  We  have  fet  ours  fo  low  we  mall 
have  no  profit  from  this  years  adventure,  yet  there  are  50 
chefts  ftill  on  hand.  You  afk  our  opinion  whether  the 
difference  between  the  Englifh  and  Dutch  teas,  if  it  did  not 
exceed  the  3d.  duty  and  9  pr  cent.,  would  be  fufficient  en- 
couragement to  the  illicit  trader  ?  If  the  difference  was  not 
greater  we  think  fome  of  the  fmugglers  would  be  difcouraged, 
but  the  greater  part  would  not.  Nothing  will  be  effectual 
fhort  of  reducing  the  price  in  England  equal  to  the  price  in 
Holland.  If  no  other  burthen  than  the  3d.  duty  in  the 


194  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Colonies,  to  fave  that  alone  would  not  be  fufficient  profit, 
and  the  New  Yorkers,  &c.,  would  soon  break  thro'  their 
folemn  engagements  not  to  import  from  England." 


ExtraEl  from  a  Letter  from    Bofton,  dated   2$th    Feb., 

in  Anfwer  to  a  calculation  fent  of  the  fuppofed  price  at 
which  the  illicit  trader  can  now  import  tea  into  America 
from  Holland: 

"  In  your  calculation  of  the  profits  on  Dutch  teas,  12  pr 
cent,  is  too  much  to  deduct  for  the  rifque  of  illicit  trade. 
We  are  confident  not  one  cheft  in  five  hundred  has  been 
feized  in  this  Province  for  two  or  three  years  pad,  and  the 
cuftom  houfe  officers  feem  unwilling  to  run  any  rifk  to 
make  a  feifure.  At  New  York,  we  are  told  it  is  carted 
about  at  noon  day.  There  is  fome  expence  in  landing, 
which  we  believe  the  importers  would  give  five  pr  cent,  to 
be  freed  from." 


Copy  of  a  Letter  from,  Rotterdam,  dated  I2th  June, 

"  I  have  to  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  your  favor  of  the 
5th  inflant,  defiring  information  of  the  prefent  ftate  and 
prices  of  tea  at  this  market,  and  alfo  what  the  freight  and 
charges  are  thereon  to  North  America,  to  all  which  I 
cheerfully  give  you  every  elucidation  in  my  power,  and  with 
the  greateft  pleasure,  as  neither  you  nor  your  friends  have 
any  thought  of  engaging  in  faid  trade,  which,  with  every 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  195 

other  branch    of  fmuggling,  mufl    be    held  in    abhorrence    by 
all  good  men.      The  present  prices  of  tea  are  — 

d.  d. 

Dutch   Bohea's,  in  whole  chefts,  20  @  22 

half  "          .  22  24 

"  quarter     "          .  24  25 

Swedifh,  whole  .  21  22 

-Danifli,  "  "  .21  22^ 

Congo,     .  28  45 

Souchon,          .....  36  65 

Peco, 32  55 

Imperial, 49  50 

Green, 48  50 

Tonkay,  ....  52  53 

Heyfan  Skin,  .         .         .         .  60  62 

Heyfan,   .         .         .         .  •       .         .  90  95 

The  tare  on  whole  chefts  is  84  Ibs.,  if  they  weigh  lefs 
than  400  Ibs.,  and  if  they  weigh  400  Ibs.  or  upwards,  then 
90  Ibs. ;  for  the  half  chelts,  under  200  Ibs.,  tare  54  Ibs. ;  if 
200  Ibs.,  or  upwards,  then  60  Ibs. ;  for  the  quarter  chefts, 
under  100  Ibs.,  tare,  23  Ibs.;  if  100  Ibs.,  or  upwards,  then 
30  Ibs.  The  advantages  on  the  tares  are  calculated  at 
7  or  8  pr  cent,  on  the  whole  chefts,  at  12  @  13  pr  cent, 
on  the  half  chefts,  and  at  15  @  16  per  cent,  on  the 
quarter  chefts.  The  quantity  of  teas  on  hand  is  not  con- 
fiderable,  fo  that  we  do  not  apprehend  a  decline ;  on  the 
contrary,  if  any  orders  of  the  leaft  importance  were  to 
appear,  the  prices  would  go  higher.  There  are  now  about 
400  chefts  fhipping  for  America,  from  Amfterdam,  from 


196  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

which  port  the  teas  that  go  to  North  America  from  this 
country  are  always  fhipped,  and  not  from  this  city ;  they 
are  fent  to  Rhode  Ifland,  and  not  to  Bofton.  Of  Green 
teas  there  are  hardly  any  left,  neither  fine  Souchong  nor 
Congos,  but  ordinary,  in  abundance.  The  freight  of  a 
whole  chefl  of  Bohea  to  St.  Euflatius,  one  of  the  Dutch 
West  India  Iflands,  comes  to  about  7^5.  pr  chefl.  It  is 
reckoned  by  the  foot  fquare,  at  6s.  the  foot  to  North  Amer- 
ica. It  is  generally  ^"4  pr  chefl,  New  York  currency,  but 
the  captain  is  not  anfwerable  in  any  cafe  of  feizure. 

Agreeable  to  your  defire,  I  fend  you  a  pro  forma  invoice 
of  6  chefls  Dutch  Boheas,  fo  as  they  come  to  fland  on  board 
if  they  were  fhipped  here ;  but  as  the  fhipping  is  at 
Amfterdam,  the  charges  may  be  fomewhat  higher.  In  regard 
to  what  they  eflimate,  the  rifk  that  in  America  for  running 
in  the  teas  I  cannot  inform  you,  this  you  may  be  better 
able  to  learn  from  fome  of  your  New  England  houfes,  as 
our  underwriters  will  not  fign  againfl  the  rifk  of  feizures ; 
but  I  fancy  the  rifk  is  not  very  great,  as  the  trade  is 
carried  on  for  so  large  parcels. 

Pro  forma  invoice  of  6  chefls  of  Dutch  Bohea  tea: 


Ibs. 

320  Tare  of  4  chefls,  under  400 

360  at  84  Ib.  each,  336  1  2271 

370 

390  do.  of  2  chefls  above 

410  400  @  90  Ib.  each  1 80 
420 


.  _  .   j)  245.  ^"2104   16 
off  i  pr  cent,       21     2 

^2083   14 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  197 

CHARGES. 

Cuftom  and  Paffport,     .         .         .         .  £20     45 

Sleding, 17 

1A  weigh  money,    .         .         .         .  13     o 

Brokerage, 10     8 

Shipping,  3     o 

Commiffion,  2  per  cent,  on  ^2131    135.  42   12 

90  1 1 


,£2174     51 

Eftimate  of  the  advantages  attending  the  Tea  trade  to  North 
America,  if  carried  on  from  England: 

Obferve  ift.  In  the  following  calculation,  no  more  than 
half  the  confumption  of  the  Continent,  as  eftimated  by 
Meffrs.  Hutchinfon,  in  their  letter  of  the  loth  Sepr.,  1771, 
is  affumed  as  the  whole,  as  from  the  mode  in  which  they 
were  under  the  neceffity  of  making  their  eftimate,  it  was 
liable  to  error,  and  19,200  cherts  is  more  than  has  been 
hitherto  annually  imported  from  China  by  all  foreign  com- 
panies. 

2ndly.  That  this  calculation  is  formed  upon  Bohea  tea 
only,  the  fpecies  of  tea  already  confumed  there  ;  yet  it  is 
probable  by  degrees  other  fpecies  might  be  introduced,  the 
vend  of  which  may  be  more  profitable  to  the  Company. 
9600  chefts  of  Bohea  tea,  each  containing  340  Ibs.,  makes 
3,264,000  Ibs.,  if  fold  at  2s.  6d.  Bofton  currency,  (which  is 
4d.  lower  than  it  appears  to  have  been  even  at  the  time  it 

1  In  this  sample  invoice  the  amount  ended  when  he  gives  a  faithful  trans- 
seems  extraordinary.  The  editor  of  this  cript  of  the  manuscript  in  his  possession, 
volume,  however,  considers  his  duty  allowing  the  facts  alone  to  appear. 


198  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

was  purchafed  in  Holland,  at  15  ftivers,  or  under  i8d.  pr  lb., 
amounts  to  ......      ,£408,000 

Deduct;  25  pr  cent,  for  exchange,       .         .         102,000 

Sterling,    .         .      ,£306,000 
Deduct  6  pr  cent,  for  commiffion  and  charges,        18,360 

Annual  net  proceeds  before   the  American )    r  0    , 

\  ,£287,640 
duty  is  deducted,       .  .  j 

Application  of  thofe  Net  proceeds  to  the  following  purpofes : 

To  the  revenue  for  the  duty  on  3,264,000,  @  3d.       ,£40,800 
To  the  fhip  owners,  for  freight  from   England  to 
America,  if    according    to    the    prefent    rate    of 

15  pr  chefl, 7,200 

To  the    fhip    owners    for    freight    from    China   to 
England,  according    to    Sir    Richard    Hotham's 
plan,  of  £21  pr  ton,  of    10  hundred  weight,  or 
for  every  3  chefts  of  tea,    .....          67,200 

To  the  purchafe  at  Canton,  if  at   15  tale  pr  pecul 
woulcf  amount   thus :    say  3,264,000  lb.,  divided 
by   133^  for    each    pecul,  makes    peculs  24,480 
@  15  each,  is  tales  367,200,  which,  at  6s.  8d.  pr 
tale,  is  flerling,     .......         122,400 

Commiffion  on  the  purchafe  in  China,  .         .  6,120 

Charges  of  all  forts,  rated  at   IDS.  pr  cheft,   .         .  4,600 

248,320 
To  the  Company   for   Net    profit    after    all    de-  "1 

ductions  whatfoever  upon  the  moft  reduced  I 
eftimate,  upwards  of  30  pr  cent,  on  the  pur-  | 
chafe,  or j 

,£287,640 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  199 

No.   2. 
LETTER   FROM    MR.   GILBERT    DARKLY. 

Gentlemen : 

I  take  the  liberty  to  enclofe  for  your  confideration 
a  memorial,  regarding  the  establifhment  of  a  branch  from 
the  Eaft  India  houfe  in  one  of  the  principal  cities  in  North 
America.  Should  the  delign  meet  with  your  approbation, 
as  I  am  well  acquainted  with  the  teas  moft  faleable  in  that 
country,  mail  be  extremely  happy  in  giving  you  every  in- 
formation in  my  power,  I  have  the  honor  to  be  with  due 
efteem,  gentlemen, 

Your  moft  obedt.  &  very  humble  fervant, 

GILB'T  BARKLY. 
Lombard  Street, 

26th  May,   1773. 

To   THE    HON'BLE    THE    COURT   OF    DIRECTORS    OF   THE    EAST 

INDIA    COMPANY. 

MEMORIAL. 

The  Memorial  of  Gilbert  Barkly,  merchant,  in  Philadelphia, 
in  North  America,  who  refeded  there  upwards  of  fexteen 
years,  and  who  is  well  acquainted  with  the  confumption  of 
that  country,  particularly  in  the  article  of  Teas,  &c. 

Humbly  propofes.  In  order  to  put  a  final  flop  to  that 

desftructive  trade  of  fmuggling : 

That  the  Company  mould  open  a  chamber  in  one  of    the 
principal,    &    central    cities,    of    North    America,    under    the 

22 


200  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

direction  of  managers,  and  that  an  affortment  of  teas  from 
England  mould  be  lodged  in  warehoufes,  and  fales  to  com- 
mence quarterly  upon  the  same  terms  &  conditions  as  thofe 
in  London. 

By  this  means  the  merchants  and  grocers  from  the 
Southern  and  Northern  Provinces  will  attend  the  fales  and 
purchafe  according  to  their  abilities.  The  goods  thus 
brought  from  home  to  them,  and  fold  cheaper  than  they 
can  be  fmuggled  from  foreigners,  the  buyers  will  be  bound 
by  intereft,  and  think  no  more  of  running  that  rifk,  to 
which  may  be  added  that  they  have  them  when  paid  for, 
immediately,  for  whereas,  when  commiffioned  from  abroad, 
they  generally  wait  fix  months  before  the  receipt  of  them. 

This  country  is  now  become  an  object  of  the  higher! 
confequence,  peopled  by  about  three  millions  of  inhabitants, 
one  third  of  whom,  at  a  moderate  computation,  drink  tea 
twice  a  day,  which  third  part,  reckoning  to  each  perfon  one 
fourth  part  of  an  ounce  pr  day,  makes  the  yearly  confump- 
tion  of  5,703,125  Ibs.  This  quantity,  at  the  medium  price 
of  2S.  6d.  pr  lb.,  amounts  to  ^712,890  2s.  6d. 

The  common  people  in  all  countries  are  the  greateft 
body,  few  of  thofe  in  North  Briton  or  Ireland  drink  tea? 
this  is  not  the  case  in  America,  all  the  planters  are  the 
real  proprietors  of  the  lands  they  poffefs ;  by  this  means  they 
can  afford  to  come  at  this  piece  of  luxury,  which  has  been 
greatly  introduced  among  them  by  the  example  of  the 
Dutch  and  German  fettlers. 

The  great  obje<5t  to  be  confidered  is  to  bring  the  goods 
to  market  in  fuch  a  manner  as  to  afford  them  as  cheap  as 
they  can  be  bought  of  foreigners.  Should  this  be  the  cafe 
the  succefs  of  the  defign  is  beyond  a  doubt. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  2OI 

The  duty  of  3d.  pr  Ib.  fome  time  ago  laid  on  teas  payable 
in  America,  gave  the  colonifts  great  umbrage,  and  occafioned 
their  fmuggling  that  article  into  the  country  from  Holland, 
France,  Sweden,  Lisbon,  &c.,  St.  Eustatia,  in  the  Weft 
Indies,  &c.,  which,  from  the  extent  of  the  coaft,  (experience 
has  taught)  cannot  be  prevented  by  cuftom  officers,  or  the 
king's  cruizers,  and  as  the  wifdom  of  Parliament  reckons 
it  impolitical  to  take  off  this  duty,  the  colonifts  will  per- 
fevere  in  purchafmg  that  article  in  the  ufual  manner  if  the 
above  method  is  not  adopted,  and  the  goods  brought  into 
their  country  and  fold  as  cheap  as  they  can  have  them 
abroad. 

The  freight,  &c.,  of  teas  to  America  would  not  much 
exceed  what  they  might  coft  to  Holland,  or  any  other 
foreign  company,  particularly  as  the  mips  may  load  back 
with  mafts,  and  other  goods  that  might  nigh  pay  the  whole 
expence,  and  mould  the  Company  think  of  exporting  their 
overftock  of  teas  to  Holland,  or  any  other  foreign  country, 
it  is  not  to  be  expected  that  the  merchants  abroad  would 
buy  them  but  with  a  view  of  profit.  This,  with  freight, 
commiffion,  duty,  &c.,  would  far  exceed  the  expence  of  fales 
and  freight  to  America. 

If  this  fcheme  mould  be  approved  of,  the  fooner  it  is 
executed  the  better,  as  the  fmugglers  in  America  will  soon 
be  laying  in  their  fall  and  winter  ftock  of  teas,  unlefs  they 
are  prevented  by  this  defign,  and  as  Spanifh  dollars  are  the 
current  coin  in  that  country,  the  Company  can  be  furnifhed 
with  any  quantity  they  may  require  towards  their  payment, 
mould  they  require  it. 

The  managers  may  be  paid  by  a  commiffion  on  the  fales, 
and  at  the  fame  time  bound  to  obey  fuch  orders  and 


202  .  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

directions  as  they  may  receive  from  time  to  time  from  the 
Hon'ble  the  Court  of  Directors,  and  as  your  memorialift  is 
univerfally  acquainted  with  the  trade,  and  has  refpectable 
connections  in  that  country,  he  humbly  offers  himfelf  as  a 
proper  perfon  to  be  one  of  the  managers,  and  if  required, 
will  find  fecurity  for  the  trufl  repofed  in  him.  Your  me- 
morialift alfo  prefumes  to  mention  John  Inglis,  Esq.,  of  the 
city  of  Philadelphia,  as  another  proper  perfon,  being  univer- 
fally efteemed  in  America,  and  well  known  in  the  city  of 
London,  as  a  man  of  probity,  fortune  and  refpecl. 


No.    3. 

LETTER    FROM    MR.    BROOK   WATSON,    TO 
DANIEL   WIER,   ESQ. 

Dear  Sir : 

The  annual  confumption  of  teas  in  Nova  Scotia  is 
about  20  chefts  Bohea,  and  3  or  4  of  good  Common  Green. 
Should  the  Company  determine  on  fending  any  to  that 
Province,  I  pray  your  intereft  in  procuring  the  commiffion 
to  Watfon's  &  Rafhleigh's  agent  there,  John  Butler,  a  man 
of  long  {landing  in  the  Province  and  in  the  Council,  and 
by  far  the  fitteft  perfon  to  be  employed,  for  whom  W.  &  R. 
will  be  anfwerable.  At  Boflon  I  have  two  friends  equally 
deferving.  You  would  do  the  Company  fervice,  and  me 
an  acceptable  kindnefs,  by  recommending  them,  Benjamin 
Faneuil,  Jun.,  &  Jofhua  Winilow.  The  confumption  at 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  203 

Bofton  is  large,  fay  at  leaft  400  chefts  Bohea  &  50  of  Green 
pr  annum.  The  freight  to  both  thefe  places  I  fhould  be 
glad  to  have  if  you  could  procure  it  without  inconvenience 
to  yourfelf. 

Yours  faithfully, 

BROOK   WATSON.1 
4  June,  1773. 


No.  4. 

A  PROPOSAL  FOR  SENDING  TEA  TO 
PHILADELPHIA. 

Received  from  the  Hobble  Mr.   Walpole? 

As  Philadelphia  is  the  capital  of  one  of  the  mofl 
populous  and  commercial  Provinces  in  North  America,  and 
is  fituated  in  the  center  of  the  middle  Britifh  Colonies,  it 
is  propofed : 

That  the  Eaft  India  Company  mould,  by  the  middle  of 
June  at  fartheft,  fend  to  Philadelphia  at  leaft  five  hundred 
chefts  of  black  teas,  one  hundred  half  chefts  of  green  teas, 

1Sir    Brook   Watson,   a  merchant   of  knee,   and  he  was   obliged   to  abandon 

London,  and  Lord  Mayor  in  1796,  born  his  chosen  profession.      A  painting,  by 

in  Plymouth,  England,  February  7,  1735,  Copley,  represents  this  scene.     Watson 

died  October  2,  1807.     Early  in  life  he  then   became   a    merchant,   and   was    a 

entered  the  sea   service,   but,   while  ba-  commissary    to    the    British    troops    in 

thing  in  the  harbor  of  Havana,  in  1749,  Canada,  in  1755  and   in  1758.     Visiting 

a  shark  bit  off  his  right  leg,  below  the  the   American   colonies  just  before  the 


204  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

and  feventy    five  half   chefts  of    Congou    and    Souchon    teas. 

That  they  fhould  confign  thefe  teas  to  a  houfe  of  char- 
acter and  fortune  in  Philadelphia,  and  direct  the  proceeds 
thereof  to  be  remitted  hither  in  bills  of  exchange  or  fpecie. 

That  previous,  however,  to  the  teas  being  fhipped,  factors 
fhould  be  appointed  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  directors  of 
the  Eaft  India  Company  mould  immediately  advife  them  of 
their  intended  confignation,  and  direct  them  to  engage 
proper  warehoufes  for  the  reception  thereof. 

That  the  factors  mould  be  authorized  to  fell  the  teas  at 
public  auction,  (giving  notice  of  the  times  of  the  fale  in  all 
the  North  American  newfpapers,  at  leaftt  one  month  before 
hand,)  and  in  fuch  fmall  lots  as  will  be  convenient  for  the 
country  ftorekeepers  to  fupply  themfelves  with  fuch  fales. 

That  the  factors  fhould  grant  the  purchafers  the  fame 
allowance  of  tare,  tret,  difcount,  &c.,  as  are  cuftomary  at  the 
company's  fales  in  this  city. 

That  in  cafe  the  factor  mould  be  of  opinion,  the  fales  of 
the  tea  would  be  encreafed  both  in  quantity  and  price,  by 
having  occafional  auctions  in  Bofton  and  New  York,  in  the 
manner  propofed  at  Philadelphia ;  that  they  fhould  be  at 
liberty  to  fend  from  time  to  time  to  Bofton  &  New  York 

Revolution,     he     professed     himself     a  a    baronet    December    5,    1803.      As    a 

Whig,   but   intercepted    letters    showed  reward    for    his    services     in    America, 

his  true  character  to   be  that  of   a  spy.  Parliament  voted  his  wife  an  annuity  of 

In  1782,  he  was   commissary-general   to  £500  for  life. 

his  friend,  Sir  Guy  Carleton,  in  Amer-  2  Hon.  Thomas  Walpole,  merchant, 
ica;  held  the  same  office  with  the  Duke  banker,  and  member  of  Parliament, 
of  York,  in  1793-95,  and  that  of  Commis-  second  son  of  Horatio,  first  Lord  Wal- 
sary-General  of  England,  in  1798-1806.  pole,  and  nephew  of  the  famous  states- 
He  was  a  member  of  Parliament  from  man,  Sir  Robert  Walpole,  died  at  Chis- 
London,  in  1784-93;  sheriff  of  London  wick,  March  21,  1803.  He  was  born 
and  Middlesex  in  1785,  and  was  made  October  25,  1727. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  205 

as  many  chefts  as  they  may  think  neceffary  for  the  con- 
fumption  &  commerce  of  thofe  places,  but  that  the  factors, 
or  one  of  them,  mould  always  attend  the  fales  in  Bofton 
and  New  York. 

That  the  Eaft  India  Company  mould  be  at  the  charge 
&  expence  of  the  warehoufe  rent  in  America,  the  cartage, 
and  the  freight  of  the  teas  from  Philadelphia  to  Bofton  & 
New  York,  and  that  the  factors  mould  be  allowed  for  re- 
ceiving and  felling  the  teas,  collecting  the  payment  thereof 
and  remitting  the  fame,  a  commiffion  of  2/^  pr  cent,  on  the 
amount  of  the  fales. 

N.B. —  It  is  fubmitted  whether  it  would  not  be  proper 
for  the  directors  of  the  Eaft  India  Company  to  fend  two 
perfons  to  Philadelphia,  who  have  been  accuftomed  to  pack 
and  repack  teas  at  the  India  Houfe,  to  the  end  that  they 
may  be  employed  for  that  purpofe,  and  in  dividing  whole 
chefts  of  black  teas  into  half  chefts,  for  the  greater  accom- 
modation of  the  country  fhopkeepers. 


No.  5. 

MR.  PALMER'S  COMPLIMENTS  TO  MR.  WHELER,  ENCLOSES  THE 
OUTLINES  OF  A  PLAN  UPON  WHICH  THE  EXPORTATION  OF 
TEA  ON  BEHALF  OF  THE  COMPANY  TO  AMERICA  TAKE  PLACE. 
MR.  P.  WILL  ATTEND  THE  COMMITTEE  WHENEVER  HE  IS 

DESIRED. 

PLAN. 

Admitting    that    an    exportation    of    tea    to    America    by 
licence    takes    place    immediately,    in    order    to    prevent    the 


206  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

colonifts  from  becoming  purchafers  at  the  fales  of  foreign 
companies,  usually  made  from  September  to  November,  and 
confequently  at  leaft  difcourage  thofe  companies  from  en- 
creafmg  their  China  trade,  and  alfo  to  obtain  fome  informa- 
tion, though  imperfect,  before  the  inveftments  for  the  China 
mips  of  the  enfuing  feafon  are  ordered.  It  is  propofed 
that  chefts  of  Bohea  tea,  chefts  of  each  fpecie  of  Single  tea, 
together  with  a  fmaller  affortment  of  Hyfon,  Souchong,  & 
Congou  tea  be  configned  to  fuch  a  number  of  merchants 
conjointly  as  may  be  thought  fufficient,  (for  whom  their 
correfpondents  in  England  mail  give  fatisfaclory  fecurity,) 
together  with  fuch  perfons  as  mail  be  thought  proper  for 
that  purpofe  to  be  fent  from  thence.  That  upon  the  arrival 
of  fuch  tea  in  Boflon  public  notice  mail  be  given  thereof 
through  the  Continent,  and  alfo  that  it  is  the  intention  of 
the  Eafl  India  Company,  if  the  fales  of  this  cargo  mould  be 
found  to  anfwer,  to  repeat  fuch  confignments,  in  order  to 
fupply  that  Continent  with  teas  at  leaft  equal  in  price  to 
what  they  muft  pay  for  the  fame  if  obtained  in  a  way  of 
illicit  trade.  That  in  order  to  conduct  these  fales  in  the 
moft  advantageous  manner,  the  parties  to  whom  the  cargoes 
mail  be  entrufted  mall  act  as  one  body ;  that  the  concur- 
rence of  the  majority  mall  be  neceffary  for  any  acl  therein  ; 
that  each  party  mail  be  anfwerable  for  himfelf  only,  but 
that  no  credit  mail  be  given  to  bills  received  for  paying 
without  the  affent  of  at  leaft  three  of  the  perfons  fo  ap- 
pointed ;  that  it  mail  be  the  object  of  the  perfon  who  may 
be  appointed  to  go  with  the  cargo  to  obtain  all  poffible 
information  reflecting  the  actual  confumption,  mode  of  fale, 
fpecies  of  tea  that  may  be  introduced,  &  opportunity  of 
remittances  at  Bofton,  where  it  is  propofed  the  firft  confign- 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  207 

ment  fhall  be  made,  as  it  is  the  only  confiderable  mart, 
where  tea  from  England  is  at  prefent  received  without 
oppofition,  and  having  fo  done  he  fhall  vifit  fuch  other 
places  on  the  Continent  as  may  be  thought  proper,  but 
particularly  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  in  order  to  obtain 
the  fame  information  at  thofe  feveral  places,  and  learn,  from 
being  on  the  fpot,  how  far  the  New  Yorkers,  &c.,  will  hold 
their  folemn  engagements,  when  they  find  the  advantages 
they  will  probably  reap  by  receiving  tea  from  England. 
They  having  obtained  all  fuch  neceffary  information,  he 
fhall  return  to  England  &  report  the  fame,  from  which  time 
it  is  prefumed  there  will  be  full  employ  for  fuch  agent 
without  any  additional  expence  to  the  Company  in  preparing 
fuch  affortments  of  tea  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  re- 
quired for  this  market,  and  can  be  beft  fpared  from  the 
neceffary  demand  of  Great  Britain  &  Ireland,  and  alfo  in 
negotiating  the  remittances  that  may  from  time  to  time  be 
received  on  account  of  this  concern. 

That  fuch  an  appointment  is  abfolutely  neceffary  muft 
appear  to  every  one  at  all  acquainted  with  the  nature  of 
the  tea  trade,  not  only  properly  to  regulate  thefe  inveft- 
ments,  but  alfo  from  time  to  time  to  preferve  proper  affort- 
ments of  tea  for  the  confumption  of  Great  Britain  &  Ireland, 
and  indeed  in  this  particular  alone  could  the  directors  for 
fome  years  paft  have  had  fuch  information,  from  any  perfon 
in  whofe  abilities  &  integrity  they  could  have  placed  a  pro- 
per confidence,  and  who,  from  the  nature  of  fuch  trufts, 
muft  be  placed  above  the  temptation  to  any  finifter  practices 
the  Company,  from  the  refources  of  the  tea  trade  alone, 
would  probably  never  have  been  involved  in  their  prefent 
difficulties. 

23 


208  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


LETTER    FROM    MESSRS.    GREENWOOD    & 
HIGGINSON. 

Gentlemen : 

We  are  informed  that  you  have  come  to  a  refolu- 
tion  to  fhip  tea  to  America,  we  therefore  beg  leave  to  re- 
commend our  friends,  Mr.  Andrew  Lord,  and  Meffrs.  Willm. 
&  George  Ancrum,1  of  Charles  Town,  in  South  Carolina, 
merchants,  for  the  confignments  of  fuch  part  as  you  may 
fhip  to  that  place.  Both  houfes  are  of  the  firft  repute,  and 
have  been  long  eftablifhed  there,  and  alfo  to  tender  to  you 
our  fhip  the  London,  Alexander  Curling,  Mafter,  to  carry 
the  fame  out,  who  mail  be  ready  to  fail  whenever  you  pleafe 
to  account. 

We  are,  your  molt  humble  fervants, 

GREENWOOD  &  HIGGINSON. 
London,  4  May,   1773. 

To  the  Hon'ble  the  Court  of  Directors 
of  the  United  Company  of  Merchants 
of  England,  trading  to  the  Eafl  Indies. 


LETTER   FROM    MR.  FRED'K    PIGOU,  JUNR- 

Gentlemen : 

Being  informed  you  intend  to  export  teas  to  feveral 
different  fettlements  in  America,  to   be  fold  there  under  the 

1  William    Ancrum,    was    a    loyalist,      in    1782,    and    his    property    was     con- 
of  Charleston,  S.C.,      He  was  banished      fiscated. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  209 

direction  of  agents  to  be  appointed.  I  beg  leave  to  ac- 
quaint the  Court  that  I  have  a  houfe  eftablifhed  in  New 
York,  under  the  firm  of  Pigou  &  Booth,  and  I  humbly 
folicit  the  favor  of  that  houfe  having  a  mare  of  the  confign- 
ments. 

Philadelphia  being  alfo  a  port  to  which  the  Company 
will  moft  likely  fend  teas,  I  beg  leave  to  recommend  Meffrs. 
James  &  Drinker,  of  that  city,  to  be  one  of  your  agents 
there. 

Should  I  be  fo  happy  to  fucceed  in  my  requeft,  I  am 
certain  the  greateft  attention  will  be  paid  by  thofe  gentle- 
men to  the  Company's  orders,  and  that  the  Company's 
intereft  will  be  made  their  ftudy  in  the  fales  and  remittances. 
I  alfo  beg  leave  to  obferve  that  if  mips  mould  be  wanted 
for  this  fervice,  I  have  veffels  now  ready  for  the  ports  of 
Philadelphia  and  New  York. 

I  am,  gentlemen, 

Your  moft  obed't  &  very  humble  ferv't, 

FRED'K  PIGOU,  Jun» 
Mark  Lane,   ist  June,   1773. 

To  the  Hon'ble  the  Court  of  Directors 
of  the   United  Eaft  India  Company. 


LETTER  FROM  MR.  JONATHAN  CLARKE. 

London,   ift  July,   1773. 
Gentlemen : 

I  intended  to  have  made  a  purchafe  of  teas  at  your 
prefent    fale    to    have    exported  to  America,  but    the    candid 


210  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

intimation  given  by  you  of  an  intention  to  export  them  to 
the  Colonies  on  account  of  the  Company,  renders  it  difad- 
vantageous  for  a  fmgle  houfe  to  engage  in  that  article. 

I  now  beg  leave,  gentlemen,  to  make  a  tender  to  you  of 
the  fervices  of  a  houfe  in  which  I  am  a  partner,  Richard 
Clarke  and  Sons,1  of  Boflon,  New  England,  to  conduct  the 
fale  of  fuch  teas  as  you  may  fend  to  that  part  of  America, 
in  conjunction  with  any  other  houfes  you  may  think  proper 
to  entruft  with  this  concern ;  altho'  I  have  not  the  honor  of 
being  perfonally  known  to  many  of  you,  I  flatter  myfelf 
our  houfe  is  known  to  the  principal  merchants  who  deal  to 
our  Province,  and  are  known  to  have  always  fulfilled  our 
engagements  with  punctuality  &  honor,  and  trufl  I  fhall  pro- 
cure you  ample  fecurity  for  our  conducting  this  bufmefs, 
agreeable  to  the  direction,  we  may  from  time  to  time  re- 
ceive from  you. 

1  Richard,  son  of  Francis  Clarke,  instructions  respecting  the  consignment 
merchant,  graduated  at  Harvard  College,  of  tea  from  the  directors  of  the  East 
in  1729,  and  died  in  London,  at  the  India  Company.  Richard  Clarke  arrived 
residence  of  his  son-in-law,  John  Single-  in  London  December  24,  1775,  after  a 
ton  Copley,  the  artist,  February  27,  1795.  passage  of  twenty-one  days  from  Boston. 
He,  with  his  sons,  Richard  and  Jonathan,  The  Clarkes  were  included  in  the  Act 
constituting  the  firm  of  Richard  Clarke  of  Proscription,  and  their  estates  were 
&  Sons,  did  business  in  King  (now  confiscated.  Richard  Clarke  was  a 
State)  Street,  and  became  exceedingly  nephew  of  Governor  Hutchinson.  His 
obnoxious  to  the  people,  on  their  re-  wife,  Elizabeth,  was  the  daughter  of 
fusal  to  resign  their  appointment  as  Edward  Winslow,  of  Boston.  Susan, 
factors  of  the  East  India  Company's  his  daughter,  married  Copley,  the 
tea.  The  residence  of  the  Clarke's,  painter,  and  became  the  mother  of 
on  School  Street,  (corner  of  Chapman  Lord  Lyndhurst.  Another  daughter, 
Place,)  was  mobbed  on  the  evening  of  Mary,  married  Judge  Samuel  Barrett. 
November  1 7,  1 773,  but  no  serious  Copley's  portrait  of  Richard  Clarke  rep- 
damage  was  done.  (This  incident  is  resents  him  as  a  man  of  commanding 
fully  detailed  on  a  previous  page.)  presence,  with  features  resembling,  in  a 
Jonathan  Clarke  was  in  London  in  the  remarkable  degree,  those  of  Washington, 
summer  of  1773,  and  received  verbal  in  the  Stuart  portrait. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  211 

In  foliciting  this  favor,  I  beg  leave  to  avail  myfelf  further 
of  the  circumftance  of  our  having  for  a  long  time  been 
concerned  in  the  tea  trade,  and  to  greater  extent  than  any 
houfe  in  our  Province,  with  one  exception.  Of  the  dif- 
appointment  I  have  met  with  in  my  intended  adventure,  by 
which  we  are  deprived  of  a  very  valuable  branch  of  our 
bufmefs,  and  on  my  being  on  the  fpot  to  take  fuch  inftruc- 
tions  from  you  as  may  be  requifite  in  difpofing  of  what  you 
may  fend.  And  give  me  leave  to  add  my  affurances  that 
the  intereft  of  the  Eaft  India  Company  will  always  be 
attended  to  by  the  houfe  of  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  if  you 
think  fit  to  repofe  this  confidence  in  them. 

I  am,  very  refpeclfully,  gentlemen, 

Your  moft  obed't  &  humble  fervant, 

JONATHAN  CLARKE. 
To  the   Hon'ble  Directors  of  the 
Eaft  India  Company. 

Mr.  Clarke  alfo  enclofed  two  letters  in  his  favor  ;  one 
from  Meffrs.  Henry  &  Thos.  Bromfield,  the  other  from  Mr. 
Peter  Contencin,  merchants. 


June  sth,   1773. 
Sir: 

The  bearer,  Mr.  Darkly,  is  the  perfon  whom  I  took 
the  liberty  of  recommending  to  you  as  a  perfon  able  and 
qualified  to  give  you  information  touching  the  quantity  of 


212  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

tea  that  is  now  confumed  in  America,  and  to  ferve  the 
Company  in  that  part  of  the  World  in  cafe  the  Directors 
mail  judge  it  proper  to  make  any  eftablifhment  there  for 
felling  tea  on  the  Company's  account,  &  I  am,  sir, 

Your  moft  obedient  and  moft  humble  fervant, 

GREY  COOPER.' 
Received  from  Henry  Crabb  Boulton,  Efq. 


Hon'ble  Sirs : 

Being  informed  of  your  refolution  to  export  a 
quantity  of  tea  to  different  parts  of  America,  we  take  the 
liberty  of  recommending  our  friends,  Meffrs.  Willing,  Morris 
&  Co.,  to  be  your  agents  at  Philadelphia,  for  whom  we  are 
ready  to  be  anfwerable. 

We  are,  very  refpectfully, 
Your  honors  moft  obedient,  humble  fervants, 

ROBERTS,  BAYNES  &  ROBERTS. 
8  June,   1773. 

To  the   Hon'ble  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes. 

1  Grey,    afterwards    Sir  Grey  Cooper,  and  North.     He  was    made    a    Lord    of 

studied    law    at    the    Temple,    London;  the    Treasury    in    1783,   a    Privy    Coun- 

became    an    efficient    supporter    of    the  cillor  in  1793,  and  died   at  Worlington, 

Rockingham  party,  and   held   the   office  Suffolk,    July    30,    1801  ;   aged    seventy- 

of  Secretary  of  the  Treasury  throughout  five.       He    was    an    able    speaker    and 

the    American    troubles,     covering     the  parliamentarian, 
administrations    of     Chatham,     Grafton, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  213 

London,  Qth  June,   1773. 

Gentlemen  : 

I  have  underftood  that  you  propofe  fixing  agents 
in  the  different  colonies  in  America,  to  difpose  of  certain 
quantities  of  tea ;  if  fo,  I  am  a  native  and  merchant  of 
Virginia,  and  think  it  will  be  in  my  power  to  execute  your 
commands  in  that  quarter,  on  terms  equal,  if  not  fuperior, 
to  any  one  in  it. 

There  are  fome  things  refpecling  this  bufmefs  that  come 
within  my  knowledge,  which  are  too  prolix  for  a  letter,  but 
if  the  Court  chufes  to  notice  my  petition,  I  mail  be  happy 
and  ready  to  give  any  intelligence  in  my  power. 

I  am,  gentlemen, 

Your  very  obed't  &  hum'ble  ferv't, 

BENJ.  HARRISON,  Jun- 
At  Webbs,  Arundel  Street,  Strand. 

To  the   Hon'ble  Court,  &c. 


Gentlemen : 

Being  informed  that  you  have  it  in  contemplation 
to  export  tea  to  the  different  Provinces  in  North  America, 
for  fale  on  the  Company's  account,  I  beg  leave  to  recom- 
mend my  brother,  Mr.  Jonathan  Browne,  merchant,  in  Phila- 
delphia, as  an  agent  for  any  bufmefs  you  may  have  to 
transact  at  that  place,  and  I  flatter  myfelf  his  activity  & 


214  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

knowledge  of  the  trade  of  that  country,  acquired  by  a  refi- 
dence  of  upwards  of  fifteen  years,  will  render  him  deferving 
of  your  notice. 

Any  fecurity  for  his  conduct  I  am  ready  to  give,  and  to 
any  amount  you  mall  think  neceffary  for  the  difcharge  of 
the  truft  you  may  be  pleafed  to  repofe  in  him. 

I  am,  very  refpeclfully,  gent., 

Your  mofl  obed't  &  humble  ferv't, 

GEORGE  BROWNE. 

London,  Tower  Hill,   nth  June,   1773. 
To  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes. 


Gentlemen : 

As  many  difficulties  feem  at  prefent  to  attend  the 
exportation  of  tea  to  America  in  large  quantities,  on  ac- 
count of  the  Company,  if  the  expedient  is  approved  by  this 
Court,  of  fending  about  200  chefts  of  Bohea  tea,  and  a  frnall 
affortment  of  other  fpecies  to  Bofton,  by  way  of  experiment, 
and  you  mould  think  proper  to  entruft  fuch  cargo  to  the 
care  of  Meffrs.  Hutchinfon,  merchants,  there,  I  am  ready, 
as  a  fecurity,  to  advance  upon  the  fame  the  fum  fuch  tea 
mail  amount  to,  at  the  prime  coft  in  China  &  freight  from 
hence,  before  the  fhipping  thereof,  provided  I  am  permitted 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  215 

to  charge    intereft   upon  fuch    advance,  until    remittances  for 
the  fame  are  received  from  America. 

I  am,  gent., 

Your  humble  ferv't, 

WM.  PALMER. 
De\onfhire  Square,  24th  June,   1773. 

To  the  Hon'ble  Court  of  Directors,  &c.,  &c. 


Sir: 

The  Committee  of  Warehoufes  of  the  Eaft  India 
Company  defire  you  will  meet  them  at  this  houfe,  on 
Thurfday  next,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  relative  to  the 
exportation  of  tea  to  America. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  humble  ferv't, 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  House,  25th  June,   1773. 

To  BROOK  WATSON,  ROBERTS,  BAYNES  &  ROBERTS, 

JONATHAN  CLARKE,  WM.  KELLY, 

FREDE'K  PIGOU,  Junr.  GREENWOOD  &  HIGGINSON, 

GILBERT  BARKLY.  BENJAMIN  HARRISON, 

GEORGE  BROWNE,  SAMUEL  WHARTOX, 

GEO.  HAYLEY  &  JOHN  BLACKBURN,  Esqrs. 

24 


216  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


Gentlemen  : 

The  enclofed  newfpapers  contain  the  fentiments 
of  the  Americans  with  regard  to  the  quantity  of  teas  con- 
fumed  in  that  country,  and  the  fatal  confequences  attending 
buying  it  from  foreigners,  by  leading  them  to.purchafe  other 
articles  of  Eaft  India  goods  at  the  fame  markets  which 
otherwife  would  not  be  an  object,  and  which,  of  courfe, 
would  be  commiffioned  from  the  mother-country. 

The  memorial,  which  I  had  the  honor  to  deliver,  lately 
points  out  an  undoubted  method  for  gaining  this  trade. 

The  Company  being  the  exporters,  pays  the  American 
duty  of  3d.  pr  lb.,  of  which  they  will  be  amply  repaid  by 
the  advance  on  their  fales,  and  as  mankind  in  general  are 
bound  by  intereft,  and  as  the  duty  of  about  a  mill'g  pr  lb. 
is  now  taken  off  tea  when  exported,  the  Company  can 
afford  their  teas  cheaper  than  the  Americans  can  fmuo-o-le 

1  Oo 

them  from  foreigners,  which    puts  -the    fuccefs  of    the  defign 
beyond  a  doubt. 

It  may  be  fuggefted  that  the  Americans  have  not  money 
to  pay  for  thofe  goods.  The  Province  of  Pennfylvania  alone 
mips  yearly  to  the  Weft  Indies,  Spain,  Portugal  &  France, 
&c.,  above  300,000  barrels-  of  flour,  large  quantities  of  wheat, 
Indian  corn,  iron,  pork,  beef,  lumber,  and  above  15,000  hhds. 
of  flax  feed  to  Ireland,  and  the  other  Provinces  are  equally 
induftrious.  The  principal  returns  are  in  filver  and  gold, 
with  bills  of  exchange,  an  incredible  part  of  which  will 
center  with  the  Company  fhould  the  fame  be  executed 
agreeable  to  the  plan  propofed,  and  fmuggling  will  be 
effectually  abolifhed  without  any  additional  number  of 
officers  and  cruizers. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  217 

Warehoufe  rent,  &c.,  in  America,  will  come  as  cheap  as 
it  is  in  England,  and  by  the  mode  propofed  for  difpofmg 
of  the  teas,  the  grocers  and  merchants  will  be  quickly  ferved 
without  any  rifk  of  lofs  by  bad  debts.  I  beg  your  forgive- 
nefs  for  the  freedom  I  have  taken.  I  have  the  honor  to 
be,  with  due  refpecl,  gentlemen, 

Your  moft  obed't  &  humble  fervant, 

GILBERT  BARKLY. 
Lombard  Street,  29  June,   1773. 

To  the  chairman  &  deputy  chairman  of 
the  Eaft  India  Comp'y. 

(See    Mr.  Barklys    letter   in    the  mifcellany    bundle  for    the 
Pennfylvania  packet  of  ijth  May,  I1/ 7 'j.J 


Sir: 

Upon  my  coming  to  town,  I  found  a  letter  from 
the  clerk  of  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes,  defiring  my 
attendance  at  the  Eaft  India  Houfe,  relative  to  the  exporta- 
tion of  teas  to  America. 

I  mould  have  waited  on  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes  at 
the  time  defired,  if  I  had  been  in  town,  and  I  will  attend 
them  if  they  wifh  to  fee  me  any  day  next  week,  which  may 
be  convenient  to  them.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obedi-  humb.  ferv't, 

SAMUEL  WHARTON. 
Argyle  Street,  June  3oth,   1773 

Crabb  Boulton,  Efqr. 


2l8  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

SOME  THOUGHTS  UPON  THE  EAST  INDIA 
COMPANY'S   SENDING  OUT   TEAS    TO  AMERICA. 

Submitted  to  the  confederation  of  Henry  Crabb  Boulton,  Esq., 
Chairman  of  the  Eaft  India  Company. 

The  ufual  exports  to  America,  confifting  of  callicoes, 
muflins,  and  other  produce  of  India,  (tea  excepted,)  have  been 
feldom  lefs  than  ,£600,000  pr  an.,  as  fuch  the  confequence 
of  that  trade,  and  the  interefl  of  the  merchants  concerned 
therein,  ought  to  be  well  confidered  before  this  meafure  of 
fending  out  teas  to  America  fhould  be  adopted,  left  it 
might  defeat  the  one  and  prejudice  the  other. 

The  merchants  are  much  alarmed  at  this  ftep  of  the 
Company,  fearing  it  will  prevent,  in  a  great  degree,  the 
remittances  from  their  correfpondents  by  fo  much  or  near 
it  as  the  fales  of  the  teas  amount  to  ;  for  it  is  beyond  a 
doubt,  that  the  people  in  America,  if  they  admit  the  teas, 
(which  I  much  doubt,)  will  be  tempted  to  purchafe  them 
with  the  very  money  arifing  from  the  fales  of  muflins, 
callicoes,  Perfians,  &c.,  bought  of  the  Company  inftead  of 
fending  it  to  the  merchants  in  England,  and  thereby  tend 
to  encreafe  the  diffcrefs  which  is  already  too  feverely  felt,  for 
want  of  remittances.  And  I  mould  not  be  furprized  at  the 
merchants  forming  a  refolution  fimilar  to  that  of  the  dealers, 
viz.,  not  to  purchafe  anything  from  a  Company  who  are 
interfering  fo  effentially  with  their  trade,  and  ftriking  at  the 
root  of  their  interefts.  I  am  of  opinion,  if  a  proper  applica- 
tion was  made  to  the  miniftry,  aided  by  a  petition  from  the 
American  merchants,  it  might  produce  a  relaxation  of  that 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  219 

difagreeable  and  fatal  duty  of  3d.  pr  lb.,  'and  in  cafe  of 
fuccefs  I  could  almofl  promife  that  in  the  course  of  six 
months  there  would  be  exported  not  lefs  than  one  million 
of  pounds  of  tea,  and  further,  that  the  ufual  annual  export 
would  be  upon  an  average  four  millions  of  pounds  of  teas. 
This  mode  would  relieve  the  Company  from  its  prefent 
load,  and  place  the  correfpondence  and  connection  in  its 
ufual  and  natural  channel.  But  admitting  that  the  miniftry 
would  not  comply  with  such  a  requeft,  is  it  not  too  hafly  a 
refolution  before  anfwers  are  come  from  America  if  they 
will  receive  the  teas  through  the  channel  of  the  merchants, 
and  particularly  when  they  fee  the  drawback  is  encreafed 
from  14  to  24  pr  cent,  ad  valorem,  and  thereby  they  are 
enabled  to  introduce  that  article  cheaper  from  hence  than 
from  Holland. 

It  is  well  known  to  every  gentleman  converfant  in  trade, 
that  on  account  of  fome  difagreeable  Acts  of  Parliament 
paffed  here,  the  people  of  America  formed  a  refolution, 
which  was  too  generally  adhered  to,  not  to  import  any 
goods  from  hence.  This  refolution  continued  for  two  years. 
However,  the  merchants  of  New  York,  (who  are  men  of 
underftanding  and  liberal  principles,)  forefeeing  the  fatal 
confequences  that  attend  England  &  the  Provinces  by  a 
continuance  of  dif-union  with  the  mother-country,  fummoned 
a  meeting  of  the  principal  inhabitants  of  the  town,  and  then 
came  to  a  compromife  with  the  people,  that  in  cafe  they 
would  agree  to  admit  all  other  goods,  they  promifed  not  to 
import  any  teas  from  England,  under  very  fevere  penalties, 
until  the  A61  impofmg  a  duty  of  3d.  pr  lb.  was  repealed, 
and  the  feveral  captains  of  mips  in  the  trade  were  enjoined 
upon  pain  of  forfeiting  the  good  efteem  of  the  inhabitants 


220  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

to  comply  therewith.  The  like  refolutions  were  agreed  to 
in  Philadelphia  &  South  Carolina. 

There  is  another  difficulty  which  occurs  to  me  in  this 
bufmefs,  and  that  is,  there  is  not  fo  much  fpecie  in  the 
country  as  would  pay  for  the  quantity  faid  is  intended  to 
be  exported.  The  Company  mould  be  very  cautious  who 
they  appointed  to  receive  the  produce  of  the  fales,  for 
mould  the  contractor  for  money  have  that  power,  who  are 
the  general  drawers  of  bills,  it  would  enable  the.m  to  make 
a  monopoly  of  the  ready  fpecie,  and  to  make  exchange 
advance  25  pr  ct.,  to  the  lofs  of  the  remitter. 

Thus  have  I  ftated  the  principal  objections  to  the  meafure, 
and  in  compliance  with  my  promife,  I  mail  give  you  my 
opinion  relative  to  its  introduction,  &  the  proper  modes  of 
fale,  admitting  the  Company  perfevere  in  their  refolutions 
of  exporting  the  teas  on  their  own  account. 

A  fhip  mould  be  hired  by  the  Company,  capable  of  carry- 
ing the  quantity  they  intend  to  export,  and  at  fo  much  pr 
month.  She  mould  call  in  the  firft  place  at  Bofton,  and 
there  land  300  chefts,  under  the  care  of  one  of  the  Com- 
pany's own  clerks  ;  from  thence  to  New  York,  and  there 
land  300  chefts,  in  the  like  manner  as  at  Bofton  ;  from 
thence  to  Philadelphia,  and  there  land  300  chefts,  as  before, 
and  from  thence  to  Carolina,  and  there  land  100  chefts, 
under  the  care  of  the  clerk  of  the  Company,  all  of  which 
may  be  performed  in  the  courfe  of  three  months  from  her 
failing  from  hence,  until  her  arrival  at  her  laft  deftined  port, 
provided  the  people  in  the  different  Provinces  don't  difturb 
the  voyage  upon  the  arrival  of  the  teas.  Public  notice 
mould  be  given  in  the  papers  of  each  Province  at  leaft  one 
month  preceding  the  fale,  and  the  following  valuation  prices 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  221 

affixed  for  the  buyers  to  bid  upon,  subject  to  the  allowances, 
as  limited  in  your  own  fales  :  Bofton,  @  23.,  lawful  money, 
pr  Ib. ;  New  York,  2s.  gd.,  currency ;  Philadelphia,  25.  3d., 
currency  ;  Charles  Town,  South  Carolina,  los.  pr  Ib.,  cur- 
rency. Thefe  prices  are  for  Boheas.  The  feveral  clerks  of 
the  Company  can  with  eafe  correfpond  with  each  other,  as 
there  is  a  conftant  and  regular  communication  by  poft,  fo 
that  if  there  fhould  be  an  over  quantity  at  one  place,  and 
a  deficiency  at  another,  it  may  be  fupplied.  The  clerks 
mould  have  directions  to  pay  the  proceeds  of  the  fales  to 
fome  eminent  merchant  at  each  Province,  who  mould  be  a 
perfon  well  acquainted  with  the  article,  and  one  who  has 
great  weight  with  the  other  merchants  and  people,  both"  as 
to  efteem,  rank  and  property  ;  this  merchant  to  remit  the 
money  by  good  bills  of  exchange,  which  he  muft  guarantee, 
and  a  fecurity  given  here  for  such  a  truft. 

Great  care  mould  be  had  to  regulate  the  fale  by  the 
confumption  of  each  Province,  and  not  to  be  held  at  the 
fame  time,  but  to  follow  each  other  by  the  diflance  of  a 
fortnight,  fo  that  in  cafe  there  mould  be  more  buyers  at  one 
Province  than  the  quantity  will  furnifh,  they  may  have  an 
opportunity  of  writing  or  going  to  the  next  fale  at  another 
Province. 

I  fear  there  may  be  an  oppofition  made  by  fome  of  the 
Provinces  upon  a  furmife  that  Government  is  aiding  in 
this  plan,  and  mean  to  eftablifh  principle  and  right  of 
taxation,  for  the  purpofe  of  a  revenue,  which  at  prefent  is 
very  obnoxious,  as  fuch  great  care  mould  be  had  not  to 
employ  either  paymafter,  collector,  or  any  other  gentleman 
under  the  immediate  fervice  of  the  Crown,  to  receive  the 
money. 


222  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Garlick   Hill,   ift  July,   1773. 
Gentlemen : 

In  compliance  with  your  defire,  we  have  reflected 
on  the  bufmefs  &  expence  which  will  attend  the  fale  of 
and  remitting  for  fuch  teas  as  the  Eafl  India  Company 
may  fhip  to  North  America,  and  confidering  that  none  but 
gentlemen  of  known  property,  integrity  and  of  experience 
in  trade  can,  with  propriety  and  fafety  to  the  Company,  be 
employed  therein,  we  humbly  conceive  that  five  pr  cent, 
commiffion,  and  one  pr  cent,  for  truckage,  warehoufe  rent, 
brokerage,  and  other  incidental  charges,  making  in  the  whole 
fix  pr  cent,  on  the  grofs  fales,  is  as  little  as  the  bufmefs 
can  be  tranfa<5ted  for.  And  we  further  beg  leave  to  fuggefl 
that  no  perfon  ought  to  be  employed  who  will  not  give 
fecurity  to  the  Company,  in  London,  for  faithfully  following 
fuch  inftructions,  as  they  may  from  time  to  time  receive 
from  them,  for  remitting  to  the  Company  all  monies  which 
they  may  receive  on  account  of  teas  fold,  firft  deducting  the 
above  fix  pr  cent,  together  with  fuch  freight  and  duties  as 
they  may  have  paid  on  account  thereof,  and  intereft  thereon, 
till  reimburfed,  fuch  remittances  to  be  made  in  bills  of 
exchange,  within  two  months  after  receiving  the  money, 
which  bills,  to  be  drawn  upon  their  fecurity  in  London, 
payable  fixty  days  after  fight,  or  in  fpecie,  at  the  Company's 
rifk  and  expence  ;  if  in  bills  of  exchange,  the  fecurity  to  be 
obliged  to  accept  and  pay  them.  Should  the  Company 
determine  to  fhip  teas  on  their  own  account  and  rifk  to 
North  America,  we  prefume  to  recommend  to  their  fervice, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


223 


Benjamin  Faneuil,  Junr.,  Efqr.,  &  Jofhua  Window,  Efqr.,1  of 
Bofton,  jointly,  to  tranfa<5t  their  bufmefs,  for  whom  we  are 
ready  to  give  fecurity  to  the  amount  of  ten  thoufand  pounds 
for  their  performance  of  the  before  mentioned  conditions, 
and  in  like  manner  a  fecurity  of  two  thoufand  pounds  for 
John  Butler,  Efqr.,  of  Halifax,  in  Nova  Scotia,  who  we  alfo 
beg  leave  to  recommend  to  the  Company's  fervice.  We 
are,  with  great  refpect,  gentlemen, 

Your  obe't,  hum6  ferv'ts, 

WATSON  &  RASHLEIGH. 
To  the  Hon'ble  the  Committee 
of  Warehoufe,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 


1  Joshua  Winslow,  son  of  Joshua  and 
Elizabeth  Savage  Winslow,  born  in 
Boston,  in  1737,  died  there  in  March, 
1 775,  after  an  illness  of  only  three  days. 
Joshua,  his  father,  (1694-1769,)  third  in 
descent  from  Governor  Edward,  of  Ply 
mouth,  was  the  son  of  Colonel  Edward 
Winslow,  sheriff  of  Suffolk  County. 
In  1720,  he  founded  a  mercantile  house 
in  Boston,  in  which  his  brother  Isaac 
(the  Tory)  was  a  partner,  from  1736  to 
1757,  and  in  1760  admitted  his  son, 
Joshua,  to  a  share  of  the  business,  he 
himself  retiring  with  an  ample  fortune, 
in  1767.  This  firm  carried  on  an  ex- 
tensive and  profitable  trade.  With  the 
proceeds  of  consignments  from  Bristol, 
England,  vessels  were  built  in  Boston, 
and  loaded  with  fish  for  Leghorn,  or 

25 


some  other  foreign  port,  return  cargoes 
being  taken  for  Bristol.  They  also 
became  considerable  shipowners,  and 
had  one  ship  constantly  in  the  London 
trade.  Their  place  of  business  was  on 
the  corner  of  King  and  Broad  Streets. 
Joshua  Winslow,  who  was  one  of  the 
consignees  of  the  tea,  seems  to  have 
been  present  when  they  were  called 
upon  by  the  Sons  of  Liberty,  at  Clarke's 
warehouse,  but  does  not  afterwards 
appear,  except  by  proxy.  He  must  have 
absented  himself  from  Boston  soon  after 
that  occurrence,  as  he  did  not  go  with 
the  other  consignees  to  the  castle.  He 
married  Hannah,  daughter  of  Commo- 
dore Joshua  Loring,  and  left  her  a 
widow,  with  one  son  and  four  daughters. 


224  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


London,  July  2,   1773. 
Gentlemen : 

If  it  fhould  be  agreeable  to  you  to  confign  to  the 
houfe  of  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  of  Bofton,  New  England, 
this  fummer  or  fall,  I  would  beg  leave  to  propofe  to  you, 
that  I  will  find  fecurity  to  the  amount  of  two  or  three 
hundred  chefts,  that  in  eight  months  after  the  fale  of  them 
in  America,  the  accounts  mail  be  forwarded  you,  and  the 
money  for  the  net  proceedings  paid  to  your  order  within 
that  time,  you  allowing  our  houfe  five  pr  cent,  commiffion 
on  the  fales,  and  one  pr  cent,  for  ftorage  &  other  charges, 
the  freight  and  American  duty  to  be  chargeable  on  the  teas 
befides,  &  we  to  be  free  from  the  rifk  of  fire  or  any  other 
accident  that  may  occur  before  the  delivery  of  the  tea. 
I  am,  with  the  greateft  refpect,  gentlemen, 

Your  mofl  obed't,  hum.  fer't, 

JONATHAN  CLARKE. 
To  the  Hon'ble  Directors,  &c.,  &c. 


London,  July  5,   1773. 
Sirs  : 

The  terms  which  I  had  the  honor  to  converfe  with 
you  upon,  relative  to  the  fale  of  teas  in  America,  I  take 
leave  to  recapitulate  as  necefsary,  to  underftand  each  other, 
viz. :  You  expect  that  the  houfes  here  who  recommend  their 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  225 

friends  abroad,  and  are  in  confequence  appointed  as  your 
factors  to  difpofe  of  that  article,  fhould  ftipulate  that  it  be 
fold  agreeable  to  fuch  orders  as  you  may  think  proper  to 
give  for  that  purpofe,  and  that  the  factors  pay  the  cartage, 
warehoufe  rent,  brokerage,  and  other  charges  incidental  to 
the  fale,  and  remit  the  net  proceeds  in  two  months  from 
the  laft,  prompt,  in  good  bills  of  exchange  or  bullion,  for 
the  whole  of  which  fervice  they  are  to  retain  a  commiffion 
of  6  pr  cent,  on  the  grofs  fales,  the  Company  to  be  at  the 
rifk  and  expence  of  fhipping  the  tea  out,  to  pay  duty  and 
entry  abroad,  and  to  be  alfo  at  the  rifk  and  expence  of 
fending  bullion  home,  which  terms  I  do  agree  to  in  behalf 
of  thofe  which  I  mall  recommend,  whose  names  are  at  the 
foot.  And  as  it  feems  prudent  to  guard  againft  accident 
by  death,  as  well  as  that  the  Company  be  fecured  againft 
the  neglect  &  mifconducl:  of  its  fervants  in  this  bufmefs,  I 
do  hereby,  for  myfelf  and  my  houfe,  here  guarantee  the  fafety 
of  the  houfes  named  as  above,  for  the  execution  of  this 
bufmefs,  and  alfo  that  fuch  bills  of  exchange,  as  they  mail 
remit  on  the  above  account,  fhall  be  good. 

The  agents  in  this  bufmefs  hope  to  be  indulged  with 
giving  their  mips  in  the  trade  the  freight  of  the  tea  out, 
in  preference  to  others. 

I  am,  with  the  higheft  refpect,  firs, 

Your  moft  obed't  &  moft  hum.  ferv't, 

WILLIAM    KELLY. 

To  the  Hon'ble  the  Com1-6  of  Warehoufes,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 


226  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

For  New   York : 
Meffrs.  Abraham   Lott  &  Co.1 
Meffrs.  Hugh  &  Alexr  Wallace. 

Mr.  Lott  has  been  a  merchant  of  reputation  there  about 
1 8  years,  and  Public  Treafurer  of  the  Province  about  7 
years.  The  latter  is  a  houfe  of  long  ftanding  and  of  great 
credit,  and  is  well  known  to  many  gentlemen  here,  particu- 
larly Meffrs.  Bourdieu  &  Chollet. 

For  Bqfton : 
John  Erving,  Junr»a 
Henry  Lloyd.3 

Both  men  of  fortune  and  eflablifhed  characters  as  mer- 
chants. 

For  Philadelphia  : 
Meffrs.  Francis  Tilghman. 
Meffrs.  Reefe  Meredith  &  Son. 

Bath  houfes  of  great  credit  &  eflablifhed  reputation. 

P.  S.  —  Mr.  Kelly,  on  confideration,  thinks  that  one  month 
from  the  laft  prompt,  will  be  too  fhort  a  time  for  limiting 
the  remittances  to  be  made,  and  therefore  has  taken  the 
liberty  to  put  dowa-  two. 

1  Abraham   Lott,   of    New    York,   was  dred  pounds,  and  carried  off  two  slaves, 

treasurer   of   that   colony,   and    died   in  In  1786,  the   Legislature   of   New  York 

New  York,  1794;   aged  sixty-eight.     In  passed    an    Act,    "more    effectually    to 

September,  1776,  he  was  ordered  by  the  compel    Abraham    Lott   to   account   for 

Whig  Convention  to  settle  his  accounts  money    received  while  he  was  treasurer 

as  treasurer,  and  pay  over    the  balance  of  the  colony,  and  for  which  he  has  not 

to    his    successor.        In    August,     1781,  accounted." 

some    Whigs  went    in    a  whale    boat  to  2  Colonel  John  Erving,  Jr.,  a  flour  mer- 

his  residence,    robbed  him   cf  six    hun-  chant,  on    Kilby  Street,   Boston,  and  a 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  227 

London,  6  July,   1773.  . 
Sir: 

Mr.  Kelly  will  give  the  Committee  my  propofals 
for  doing  the  Company's  bufmefs  in  Virginia,  and  if  they 
require  further  knowledge  of  me,  Meffrs.  Harris  &  Co.,  and 
Mr.  John  Blackburn,  will  give  them  it.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  hum.  ferv't, 

BENJ.  HARRISON. 
Mr.  Wm.  Settle,  Clerk, 

to  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes. 


Hon'ble  Gentlemen: 

^    Purfuant  to  your  requefl,  I   beg  leave  to  lay  before 

you  the  propofal  of  my  friend,  Henry  White,  Esqr.,  of  New 

graduate  of  Harvard  College,  (1747,)  was  cillor.  In  1776,  he  fled  to  Halifax, 
in  1778,  proscribed  and  banished,  and  afterwards  went  to  England,  and  died  at 
in  1779  his  property  was  confiscated  Bath,  in  1816;  aged  eighty-nine  years, 
under  the  Conspiracy  Act.  His  man-  His  wife,  Maria  Catherina,  youngest 
sion,  on  the  west  corner  of  Milk  and  daughter  of  Governor  Shirley,  died  a 
Federal  Streets,  was  afterwards  the  few  months  before  him.  George  Erving, 
residence  of  Robert  Treat  Paine,  a  his  brother,  also  a  loyalist,  died  in  Lon- 
signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Indepen-  don,  in  1806;  aged  seventy, 
dence.  Prior  to  the  Revolution  Irving  8  Henry  Lloyd,  a  merchant  of  Boston, 
was  colonel  of  the  Boston  regiment.  agent  of  the  contractors  for  supplying 
In  1760,  he  signed  the  Boston  memorial  the  royal  army,  was  an  addressor  of 
against  the  acts  of  the  revenue  officials,  Gage,  in  1775.  In  1776,  he  went  to 
and  was  thus  one  of  the  fifty-eight  Halifax,  and  was  proscribed  and  ban- 
merchants  who  were  the  first  men  in  ished  in  1778.  He  died  in  London, 
America  to  array  themselves  against  kte  in  1795,  or  early  in  1796;  aged 
the  officers  of  the  Crown.  But,  in  1774,  eighty-six.  His  place  of  business  was 
he  was  an  addressor  of  Hutchinson,  at  No.  5  Long  Wharf, 
and  was  appointed  a  mandamus  coun- 


228  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

York,  for  the  fale  of  what  teas  you  may  think  proper  to 
commit  to  his  charge,  and  in  juflice  to  my  friend,  I  think  it 
my  duty  to  declare  that  there  is  no  gentleman  more  capable 
of  tranfacting  this  bufmefs,  feeing  from  his  long  experience 
in  that  branch,  that  his  confequence  as  a  merchant  of 
fortune  he  will  be  capable  of  advancing  the  interefl  of  the 
Company  in  the  fale  thereof,  as  well  as  filencing  any  prej- 
udices that  may  arife  from  the  mode  of  its  introduction,  viz.: 
That  the  money  arifmg  from  the  fale  of  fuch  teas  mail  be 
paid  into  the  hands  of  your  treafurer  in  three  months  im- 
mediately following  the  receit  thereof,  firft  deducting  6  pr 
cent,  in  lieu  of  all  charges  confequent  to  their  landing,  fave 
the  duty  of  3d.  pr  Ib.  and  freight,  and  I  hereby  engage  to 
join  myfelf  with  one  or  two  more  gentlemen  of  fortune  in  a 
bond  for  the  faithful  performance  of  the  above  covenant. 

I  am,  with  all  due  refpect,  hon'ble  gentleman, 
Your  moft  obedient,  &c.,  &c.,  &c.,  &c., 

JOHN  BLACKBURN. 
Scots  Yard, 

Tuesday,  6  July,   1773. 

N.B.  — The    firm    of    Mr.    White's    houfe    is    the    Hon'ble 
Henry  White,  Efqr.,  at  New  York. 

To  the   Hon'ble  Directors,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 


Sir: 

Your    letter  of    the    3Oth    ultimo,    addreffed    to    the 
chairman  of   the  Eaft    India    Comp?,  having   been  read  in  a 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  229 

Committee  of  Warehoufes,  they  defire  you  will  pleafe  to 
meet  them  at  this  houfe  tomorrow,  at  twelve  of  the  clock 
at  noon,  relative  to  the  exportation  of  tea  to  America. 

» 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  ob.  serv't, 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe, 
;th  July,   1773. 

Samuel  Wharton,  Efqr. 


To   THE    WORSHIPFUL   COMMITTEE   OF   WAREHOUSES   FOR   THE 
HON'BLE   THE    EAST    INDIA    COMPANY. 

The    Petition    of  Walter   Manfell^  of   the    City  of  London, 
Merchant,   refpeflfully  Jheweth  : 

That  your  petitioner,  having  received  certain  infor- 
mation of  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company's  intention  to 
export  large  quantities  of  teas  to  His  Majefty's  American 
Colonies,  your  petitioner  therefore  humbly  begs  leave  to 
acquaint  this  Committee,  that  he  and  his  partner,  Thos. 
Corbett,  now  refident  there  have  long  carried  on  confider- 
able  bufmefs  as  merchants,  in  Charles  Town,  South  Carolina, 
where  your  petitioner  has  been  refident  himfelf  for  near  20 
yr*-  and  flatters  himfelf  that  he  is  well  acquainted  with  the 

1  Mansell  was  a  South  Carolina  loyalist,  whose  estate  was  confiscated,  in  1782. 


230  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

trade  of  that  and  the  neighbouring  Provinces.  That  your 
petitioner  has  at  a  very  considerable  expence  erected  and 
built  large  and  commodious  brick  warehoufes,  for  the  recep- 
tion of  all  kind  of  merchandize,  in  Charles  Town,  and  has 
a  fhip  of  his  own,  of  the  burthen  of  two  hundred  tons,  con- 
ftantly  employed  in  the  Carolina  trade  only  ;  that  your 
petitioner  humbly  hopes  and  doubts  not,  but  that  this 
Hon'ble  Com*-6  will  upon  the  ftrictest  enquiry  into  his  char- 
acter and  circumftances,  being  poffeffed  of  houfes  and  lands, 
in  Charles  Town,  of  upwards  of  £500  flerling  pr  an.,  and 
from  his  American  connections  find  him  not  unworthy  of 
their  countenance  and  favor. 

Your  petitioner  therefore  humbly  prefumes  to  offer  his 
fervices  to  this  Hon'ble  Comm1-6  to  tranfact  as  their  agent 
any  bufmefs  relative  to  the  exportation  to  and  fale  of  their 
teas  in  South  Carolina,  or  elfewhere  in  the  Colonies  of 
America,  as  they  mail  think  fitting  to  commit  to  his  care 
and  management. 

WALTER  MANSELL. 


Hon'ble  Sirs : 

We  take  the  liberty  of    recommending  Meffrs.  Wil- 
ling, Morris  &  Co.,1  of  Philadelphia,  to  be  your  agents  there 

1The  firm  of   Willing,  Morris  &  Co.,  Thomas  Willing,  (1741-1821,)  from  1754 

established  in  1754,  was    the    most   ex-  to  1807,  held  successively  the  offices  of 

tensive  importing  house  in  Philadelphia.  Secretary  to  the  Congress  of  Delegates, 

They  worked  actively  and  zealously  for  at  Albany ;   mayor  of  the  city  of  Phila- 

the    non-importation    articles    of   agree-  delphia ;    Representative  in  the  General 

ment,  after  the  Stamp  Act  and  the  Tea  Assembly ;     President  of  the  Provincial 

Act    were     inflicted     on     this    country.  Congress  ;    delegate     to    the    Congress 

Robert     Morris    (1733-1806,)    was     the  of    the    Confederation  ;     President      of 

well-known  financier  of  the  Revolution.  the    first    chartered    Bank    in   America, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  231 

for  any  quantity  of  tea  you  may  pleafe  to  confign  them  for 
fale,  and  which  they  will  difpofe  of  in  the  beft  manner  they 
can  for  the  benefit  of  the  Com?-  on  the  following  terms  : 

The  tea  to  be  fold  at  two  months  prompt,  to  be  paid  for 
on  delivery,  and  the  money  to  be  paid  at  the  exchange, 
which  mail  be  current  at  that  time,  into  the  Company's 
treafury  within  three  months  after  it  is  received  from  Phila- 
delphia. Willing,  Morris  &  Co.  to  be  allowed  5  pr  cent, 
for  commiflion,  and  i  pr  cent,  for  warehoufe  room  and  all 
other  charges,  except  freight  &  duty. 

Meffrs.  Peter  &  John  Berthon    are    ready  to  become  joint 
fecurities  with  us  for  Meffrs.  Willing,  Morris  &  Co. 
We  are,  very  refpeclfully, 

Your  honors  moft  obed*  humble  fervants, 

ROBERTS,  BAYNES  &  ROBERTS. 

King's  Arms  Yard,  July  8th,   1773. 
To  the  Hon'ble  the  Com1.6.6  &c.,  &c. 


London,  8  July,   1773. 

To  the  Hon'ble  Committee  of  Warehoufes. 
Gentlemen : 

We    beg    leave    to    recommend    Meffrs.    James    & 
Drinker,  of    Philadelphia,   to   be   one    of   your  agents    at  the 

and  President  of  the  first  bank   of  the  naval  and  military  stores.     To  the  great 

United  States.     He  was    a    man   whose  credit  and  well-known  patriotism  of  this 

integrity  and  patriotism  gained  him  the  house,  the  country  owed   its  extrication 

esteem  and    praise    of   his   countrymen,  from  those  trying  pecuniary  embarrass- 

From  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution-  ments,  so  familiar  to  the  readers  of  our 

ary    war,    Willing    &    Morris    were    the  Revolutionary  history, 
agents  of   Congress  for   supplying  their 

26 


232  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

difpofal  of  teas,  which  you  may  think  proper  to  fend  to 
Philadelphia,  undertaking  that  they  fhall  difpofe  of  fuch  teas 
in  no  other  manner  than  as  you  direct,  on  condition  of  your 
allowing  them  5  pr  cent,  for  commiffion,  for  felling  and 
making  remittance,  and  i  pr  cent,  for  truckage,  warehoufe 
rent  or  any  charge  whatever  ;  mould  any  teas  get  damaged 
on  board  of  mips,  any  expence  arifmg  on  them  to  be  al- 
lowed by  the  Company.  We  do  alfo  engage,  that  in  two 
months  after  the  prompt  day,  remittance  in  bills  or  fpecie, 
fhall  be  made  to  the  Company,  provided  the  teas  are  cleared, 
the  fpecie  to  be  at  the  rifk  of  the  Company,  they  paying  the 
charges  attending  it.  We  further  agree,  that  in  cafe  any 
bills  are  protefled,  we  will  pay  the  Company  the  amount  of 
them  in  two  months  after  they  become  due.  And  we  are 
willing  to  enter  into  bond  for  the  performance  of  the  agree- 
ments, provided  the  Directors  think  proper  to  allow  the  teas 
to  be  fent  to  any  other  port,  if  the  Penfilvanians  refufe  to 
admit  the  duty  to  be  paid,  or  to  confume  them  in  that 
country,  in  the  latter  cafe,  our  bond  to  be  void. 

We  are,  &c.,  &c., 

PIGOU  &  BOOTH. 
We  beg  leave  to  folicit  the 
freight  to  Penfilvania. 


Gentlemen : 

Having  been  informed  that  the  Directors  of  the 
Eaft  India  Company  propofe  fhipping  teas  to  fome  of  the 
American  Colonies,  to  be  there  fold  by  agents  on  the  Coin- 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  233 

pany's  account,  and  as  I  apprehend  South  Carolina  may  be 
fixed  upon  as  one  of  them,  I  beg  leave  to  propofe  Mr. 
Roger  Smith,  of  South  Carolina,  for  whofe  folidity  I  am 
willing  to  become  refponfible. 

If  the  intended  plan  takes  effect,  and  you  do  give  me  the 
honor  to  admit  of  my  application,  I  mail  be  ready  to  attend 
you  on  the  bufinefs  whenever  you  may  be  pleafed  to  give 
me  notice  thereof.  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentlemen, 

Your  mofl  obd4  h'ble  ferv1 

JOHN  NUTT. 

New  Broad  Street  Buildings, 
14*  July,   1773. 

To  the  chairman  and  deputy  chairman 
of  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company. 


Sirs  : 

We    beg   leave    to    tender  you    the   fervices    of    Mr. 

Samuel    Chollet,  merchant,    in  Charleftown,  South    Carolina, 
and    Meffrs.    Hugh    and    Alexander  Wallace,1    merchants,    in 

1  Hugh  and  Alexander  Wallace,  originally  been  a  member  of  the  corn- 
brothers,  were  merchants,  of  New  York,  mittee  of  correspondence,  and  undoubt- 
and  partners  in  business.  Hugh  was  a  edly  sympathized  with  the  Whigs,  but 
member  of  the  Council,  and  second  like  many  others,  ultimately  fell  off 
President  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce.  from  the  great  body  of  his  countrymen, 
He  was  arrested  as  a  loyalist,  and  con-  and  clung  to  the  royal  cause.  In 
fined  to  the  limits  of  Middletown,  Conn.,  August,  1776,  he  was  arrested  and  con- 
and  his  estate  was  confiscated.  At  the  fined  at  Fishkill.  At  the  peace  he 
peace  he  went  to  England,  and  died  at  went  to  England,  with  his  brother,  and 
Waterford,  Ireland,  in  1788.  died  at  Waterford,  Ireland,  in  the  year 

Alexander,  his  brother,  also  a  loyalist,  1800. 
whose    property    was     confiscated,    had 


234  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

New  York,  for  the  fale  of  fuch  teas  as  you  may  think 
proper  to  fend  there,  being  perfons  in  every  refpecl:  well 
qualified  to  difpofe  of  them  to  the  belt  advantage. 

We  are  willing  to  enter  into  fuch  covenants  as  may  be 
required  for  the  fecurity  of  the  confignments  &  the  remit- 
tances of  the  fales,  on  the  fame  terms  as  are  to  be  granted 
to  other  houfes  on  the  Continent  of  America,  provided  we 
are  allowed  a  proper  confederation  for  fuch  guarantee. 

We  have  the  honor  to  be,  firs, 

Your  moft  obed1  hble.  ferv4?-- 

BOURDIEU  &  CHOLLET. 
Lime  Street,  July   15,   1773. 


London,   i5th  July,   1773. 

Gentlemen : 

Hearing  that  you  are  going  to  appoint  agents  in 
America  for  the  fale  of  your  teas,  permit  us  to  propofe  our 
partner,  Mr.  Daniel  Stephenfon,  of  Blandensburgh,  Maryland, 
as  one  (mould  you  adopt  this  meafure,)  and  we  flatter  our- 
felves,  that  from  his  long  refidence  &  connexions  in  Virginia 
&  Maryland,  in  bufmefs,  that  he  will  be  thought  an  eligible 
perfon,  &  for  his  refponfibility,  we  are  ready  to  give  the 
fecurity  of  our  houfe,  mould  he  be  appointed  on  the  fame 
terms  as  the  other  gentlemen.  We  apprehend  his  prefent 
fituation  is  well  calculated  for  this  meafure,  being  at  a 
proper  diftance  between  New  York  &  James  River,  &  near 
the  centre  of  the  Maryland  bufmess. 

We  are,  refpectfully,  gentm"    your  moft  odb1  fervants, 

GALE,  FEARON  &  Co. 
To  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  235 

Sir: 

Upon  confidering  the  exportation  of  teas  by  the 
Company,  having  no  direction  or  power  from  our  corre- 
fpondents  at  Bofton  or  New  York,  to  make  terms,  we  decline 
offering  any  recommendation  in  the  prefent  ftate  of  the 
affair,  at  the  fame  time  think  our  thanks  are  due  to  you, 
for  your  readinefs  in  attending  to  any  propofitions  we  might 
make.  We  are,  refpeclfully, 

Your  moft  ob'  ferv*? 

DAVISON  &  NEWMAN. 
Fenchurch  Street,  July  15,   1773. 

Edwd  Wheeler,  Efqr  deputy  chairman. 


Sir: 

The  Committee  of  Warehoufes  of  the  Eafl  India 
Company  defire  you  will  meet  them  at  this  houfe,  on 
Thurfday  next,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon,  relative  to  the 
exportation  of  tea  to  America.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  mofl  obd*  ferv4 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,   i7th  July,   1773. 

To  BROOK  WATSON,  SAMUEL  WHARTON, 

JONATHAN  CLARKE,  JNO.  BLACKBURN, 

FREDE'K  PIGOU,  Junr.,  BENJN.  HARRISON, 

GILBERT  BARKLEY,  WALTER  MANSELL, 

GEORGE  BROWNE,  JOHN  NUTT, 

ROBERTS,  BAYNES  &  ROBERTS,  DAVISON  &  NEWMAN, 

MR.  BERTHON,  BORDIEU  &  CHOLLETT, 

WILLIAM  KELLY,  GALE,  FEARON  &  Co. 
GREENWOOD  &  HIGGINSON, 


236  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


Gentlemen : 

In  confequence  of  my  converfation  this  day,  with 
the  gentlemen  of  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes,  relative  to 
the  rate  of  exchange  from  Bofton,  I  beg  leave  to  confirm 
the  offer  I  made,  of  abiding  by  the  flandard  exchange  of 
^133  6s.  8d.  currency  for  ,£100  fterling,  upon  an  allowance 
of  2/^  pr  cent.,  with  the  provifo  of  the  intended  exportation 
being  made  by  way  of  experiment,  that  is  not  exceeding  500 
chefts  to  Bofton,  before  the  fuccefs  thereof  is  known. 

T  am,  gentlemen, 

Your  h'ble  ferv't, 

WM.  PALMER. 
Devonfhire  Square,  22  July,   1773. 

To  the   Hon'ble  the  Court  of  Directors,  &c. 


Sirs : 

It  is  fo  perfectly  contrary  to  all  mercantile  ufage, 
to  fix  a  certain  rate  of  exchange  for  commiflion  bufmefs, 
that  we  muft  beg  leave  to  decline  making  any  further  pro- 
pofals  for  your  intended  confignments  to  New  York  and 
Carolina,  becaufe  the  revolutions  in  all  exchanges  cannot  be 
forefeen.  We  have  known  the  New  York  exchange  at  168 
&  190,  at  prefent  it  is  177^,  the  par  between  Philadelphia 
and  New  York  is,  as  160  at  the  former,  to  170^  at  the 
latter. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  237 

If  you  fhould  hereafter  adopt  the  regular  and  ufual  mer- 
cantile form  —  of  receiving  your  remittances  at  the  current 
exchange  of  the  place  at  the  time  of  remitting,  we  mall  be 
obliged  to  you  for  your  confignments  to  Mefsrs.  Hugh  and 
Alexander  Wallace,  of  New  York,  and  Samuel  Chollett,  of 
Charleftown,  South  Carolina,  for  whom  we  will  become  fecu- 
rity  for  the  ufual  commiffion  of  guarantee  of  2/^  pr  cent. 

We  are,  firs, 

Your  rnofl  obd1  h'ble 


BOURDIEU  &  CHOLLET. 
Lime  Street,  July  23^  1773. 


Sir: 

The  Committee  of  Warehoufes  of  the  Eaft  India 
Company  defire  you  will  meet  them  at  this  houfe  tomorrow 
morning,  at  eleven  o'clock,  relative  to  the  exportation  of  tea 
to  America. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  mofl  obd'  fervant, 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  29^  July,   1773. 

To  WALTER  MANSELL,  FREDERICK  PIGOU,  Junr., 

WILLIAM  PALMER,  WILLIAM  KELLY, 

BROOK  WATSON,  SAMUEL  WHARTON, 

JONATHAN  CLARKE,  GILBERT  BARKLEY, 

JOHN  BLACKBURN,  GEORGE  BROWNE. 


238  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Sir: 

I  am  directed  by  the  Comrn^6  to  acquaint  you  that 
the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  E.  I.  C.  have  agreed  to  fhip 
for  Bqfton  three  hundred  chefts  of  tea,  and  confign  to  your 
correfpondents  an  equal  proportion  thereof,  of  which  pleafe 
to  inform  them. 

Shall  be  obliged  to   you  to    acquaint  me  the  firm  of  your 
correfpondents  at  Bqfton.      I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  hum.  ferv1 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  4th  Aug4  1773. 

To  JONATHAN  CLARKE,  1  JOHN  BLACKBURN,       1 

WM.  PALMER,  V  Esqr?.  Boston.  WM.  KELLY,  i-  Esq«-  New  York. 

BROOKE  WATSON,     J  FRED'K  PIGOU,  Jun«;-.  J 

GEO.  BROWNE,         "1 

GILBERT  BARKLY, 

FRED'K  PIGOU,         f  Es(^  Philadelphia. 

SAM'L  WHARTON, 


Sir: 

At  foot  you  have  the  firm  of  our  correfpondents  at 
Bofton,  which  we  gave  into  the  Com4-6  of  Warehoufes  for 
partaking  of  the  India  Com*'.8  Tea  confignments,  and  for 
whom  we  are  ready  to  give  fecurity. 

Benj^   Faneuil,  Junr,  JEfq1:?  of  Bofton, 

Jofhua  Winflow,  late  of    Nova  Scotia,  \  jointly. 

Security  —  Brook  Watfon,  Rob1  Rafhleigh, 

Watfon  &  Rafhleigh. 
London,  4th  Aug1   1773. 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  239 

Security  offered  for  Mr.  Gilbert  Darkly,  —  Wm.  Rofs,  Esqr- 
No.  24  Auftin  Fryars. 


Securities  offered  for  Walter  Manfell, —  Henry  Laurens, 
Fludyer  Street,  Carolina  Merchants ;  William  Barrett,  Old 
Palace  Yard. 


Sir: 

The  firm  of  the  houfe  I  have  recommended  to  the 
Court  of  Directors  for  New  York,  is  Pigou  &  Booth,  #nd 
at  Philadelphia,  Mefsrs.  James  &  Drinker,  as  ag&ifs  for 
the  difpofal  of  teas.  I  am,  sir, 

Your  moft  hum.  fer1 

FRED'K  PIGOU,  Junr- 
Mark  Lane,  4  Aug1 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


Sir: 

I  was  favored  with  your  letter  of  yefterday,  la/I 
night  after  ten  o'clock,  acquainting  me  that  the  Court  of 
Directors  of  the  E.  I.  C.  had  agreed  to  fhip  for  Philadelphia 
fix  hundred  chefls  of  tea,  and  confign  to  my  correfpondents 
an  equal  proportion  thereof,  you  will  be  pleafed  to  inform 
the  Directors  that  I  gave  notice  to  my  brothers,  Thomas  & 
Ifaac  Wharton,  (the  perfons  whom  I  recommended,)  by  the 
27 


240  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

laft  night's  New  York  mail,  of  the  refolution  of  the  Court 
of  Directors  to  ftiip  the  above  quantity  of  teas  to  Philadel- 
phia. I  am,  fir, 

Your  mofl  hum.  ferv't, 

SAM'L  WHARTON. 
Argyle  Street,  Aug1  5,  1773. 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


Mr.  Browne's  compliments  to  Mr.  Settle,  and  begs  leave 
to  inform  him  that  the  addrefs  of  the  houfe  at  Philadelphia, 
whom  he  recommends  for  an  agent  for  the  fale  of  tea,  is 
Jonathan  Browne,  merchant,  at  Philadelphia. 


Sir: 

Laft  evening  I  had  the  pleafure  to  receive  yours 
of  yefterday,  mentioning  the  refolution  of  the  Court  of 
Directors  of  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company  relative  to 
the  exportation  of  tea  to  New  York,  and  defiring  me  to 
acquaint  you  with  the  firm  of  my  correfpondent  there, 
which  is  Abraham  Lott  &  Co.  I  am,  fir, 


Yours,  &c., 

WILLIAM  KELLY. 


Crefcent,  5$  Aug1   1773. 
Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  241 


MR.    PALMER'S    OPINION    IN    WHAT    MODE    TO 
SHIP    TEA    TO    AMERICA. 

The  Bohea  tea  to  be  taken  out  of  what  was  refufed  by 
the  buyers  laft  fale ;  but  particular  care  to  be  taken  that 
none  under  the  degree  of  middling,  or  good  middling,  nor 
any  damaged  chefts  are  fent,  to  be  marked  &  invoiced,  not 
according  to  the  King's  numbers,  but  the  Company's,  to  be 
reweighed,  by  thus  marking  them,  each  bed  will  be  kept 
feparate,  and  there  will  not  only  be  no  pretence  abroad  for 
finding  fault,  as  from  No.  to  No.,  will  be  exactly  of  the 
fame  quantity,  having  been  packed  from  the  faid  heap  or 
pile  at  Canton,  and  fmce  examined  in  England.  But  the 
tafte  of  the  Americans  will  alfo  be  better  known,  that  is, 
whether  they  prefer  a  frefh  middling  tea,  provided  it  is  not 
abfolutely  faint,  or  a  ftrong,  rough  tea.  A  certain  quantity 
of  each  of  thefe  kinds  to  be  fent  to  each  place,  that  either 
may  not  have  the  advantage  over  the  other,  by  having  teas 
of  a  fuperior  quality,  their  refpective  qualities  to  be  remarked 
in  the  invoices.  A  fmall  affortment  of  about  a  dozen  or 
twenty  fmall  cheffcs  of  Hyfon,  Souchong,  Congou,  and  each 
fpecie  of  Singlo  tea,  viz. :  Twankey,  Skin  and  Firft  Sort,  to 
be  fent  to  each  place,  with  proper  remarks  thereon  in  the 
refpeclive  invoices,  each  of  thefe  fpecies  to  be  taken  out  of 
fome  bed  or  break  of  teas  now  laid  down,  or  intended  fo  to 
be,  for  next  September  fale,  regard  being  had  to  their 
refpeclive  qualities,  and  to  be  taken  out  of  fuch  beds  or 
breaks,  which  mall  be  fufficiently  large,  not  only  to  fupply 


242  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

each  Colony  with  its  quantity,  but  alfo  to  leave  a  confider- 
able  part  thereof  to  be  fold  at  the  enfuing  fale,  by  which 
means  the  Company  may  hereafter  compare  the  prices  to 
the  fame  parcel  of  tea  fells  for,  not  only  at  each  Colony, 
but  alfo  at  their  own  fales,  which  can  no  otherwife  be  done, 
as  each  of  thefe  fpecies,  going  under  the  fame  general  de- 
nomination of  Hyfon,  Souchong,  Congo  and  Single,  vary 
almoft  100  pr  cent,  in  the  price  they  fell  for,  according  to 
quality,  &  not  10  pr  cent,  in  the  purchafe. 

As  it  would  be  a  great  object  with  the  Company  to 
introduce,  if  poffible,  the  confumption  of  Singlo  tea  into 
America,  that  being  a  kind  of  tea  which  fpoils  by  age,  much 
more  than  Bohea,  and  alfo  that  of  which  they  are  much 
more  considerably  overloaded  with,  and  further,  fuch  an  in- 
troduction would  have  this  advantage  alfo,  that  the  foreign 
countries  could  not  foon  rival  us,  not  being  themfelves  im- 
porters of  any  considerable  quantity  of  this  fpecie  of  tea. 
It  mould  be  recommended  to  the  agents,  to  endeavour  all 
they  can,  at  fuch  introduction,  which  it  is  conceived  may  be 
brought  about,  at  leaft  in  fome  degree,  from  the  experience 
of  the  confumption  here  in  England,  which  will  appear  to 
have  conftantly  gained  ground  proportionally,  as  its  price  at 
the  Company's  fales  has  approached  nearer  to  Bohea  tea, 
and  in  the  prefent  fituation  of  this  branch  of  the  Company's 
trade,  it  might  eafily  be  made  appear,  it  would  be  for  their 
advantage,  even  to  fell  it  in  America,  at  the  quoted  price  of 
Bohea,  by  which  means  they  might  be  relieved  from  the  dif- 
agreeable  alternative  of  felling  it  here  under  prime  cofl,  or 
keeping  a  greater  quantity  unfold  in  their  warehoufes,  until 
it  is  fpoiled  by  age. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  243 


London,  Aug*  5$   1773. 
St.  Paul's  Churchyard,  N*   55. 
Sir: 

I  am  favored  with  yours  of  yefterday's  date,  and 
agreeable  to  your  requeft,  I  fhall  immediately  communicate 
the  information  therein  contained,  to  Richard  Clarke,  Efqr., 
&  Sons,  Merchants,  in  Bofton,  New  England,  which  is  the 
houfe  with  which  I  am  connected,  and  who  I  flatter  myfelf 
will  acquit  themfelves  of  the  truft  the  Hon'ble  the  Court  of 
Directors  have  been  pleafed  to  repofe  in  them. 

I  would  alfo  beg  leave  to  folicit  part  of  the  freight  of  the 
tea  for  a  veffel  which  I  fhall  poffibly  have  ready  in  ten 
days,  provided  it  will  agree  with  the  time  you  propofe  to 
fhip  them. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  hum.  ferv4 

JONATHAN  CLARKE. 
Mr.  Wm.  Settle,   17*  Aug' 

Wm.,  Cap1  Jofeph  Royal 
Loring,  will  be  ready  in  5  days. 


Sir: 

The  Committee  of  Warehoufes  defire  you  will  in- 
form them  whether  you  have  a  conftant  trader  to  Bofton  or 
South  Carolina  ready  to  fail,  as  the  Eaft  India  Comy  intend 


244  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

to  export  teas   to    both    thofe    Colonies,  and    are   defirous  of 
giving  you  the  preference  of  the  freight. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obedi1  fer1 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  5*  Aug*  1773. 

To  George  Hayley,  Efqr 
Thos.  Lane,  Efqr- 
Alex.  Champion,  Efqr- 


Sir: 

The  deputy  chairman  of  the  Eaft  India  Comy  defires 
you  would  point  out  to  the  Com*-6  of  Warehoufes  what  forts 
of  tea  and  quantity  of  each  are,  in  your  opinion,  proper  to 
be  fent  to  Bofton  &  South  Carolina,  to  make  up  to  the 
former  of  thofe  places,  an  export  equal  to  300  large  chefts 
of  Bohea  tea,  and  the  latter  a  quantity  equal  to  200  large 
chefts  Bohea. 

Mr.  Holbrook  fays  if  you  can  be  with  him  this  morning, 
you  will  expedite  his  bufmefs  very  much,  as  the  Comtee  have 
directed  him  to  make  ready  for  fhipping  immediately. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  hum.  ferv* 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  6*  Aug1  1773. 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  245 

MR.   PALMER'S   ASSORTMENT   OF   TEAS    FOR 

AMERICA. 

Boston.    So.  Carolina.    New  York.  Philadelphia.       Total. 

Bohea,    1.  chts-  268  182  568  568  1586 

Congo,  fm1  d°-  20  10  20  20  70 

Single,  d°-  80  50  80  80  290 

Hyfon,  d°-  20  10  20  20  70 

Souchong,  d°-  10  5  10  10  35 

WEIGHT    OF    TEA    EXPORTED    TO    AMERICA. 

Ibs. 

Bohea,  ....  562,421 

Single,  .         .         ,  22,546 

Hyfon,  ....  5,285 

Souchong,  ....  2,392 

Congou,  .         .         .         .  6,015 

Total  Ibs.,       .        598,659 


The  Hayley,  James  Scott,  is  now  ready  to  fail,  &  I  mean 
to  difpatch  her  15$  Aug'-  The  Dartmouth,  James  Hall,1 
will  be  here  about  14  days  longer.  These  two  are  conftant 
traders  to  Bofton. 

I  have  no  connection  with  the  Carolina  trade,  but  I 
underftand  the  London,  Curling,  belonging  to  Greenwood  & 

1  James  Hall,  captain   of  the     "  Dart-      was    consequently   proscribed  and   ban- 
mouth,"  the  first   tea-ship    to    arrive    in      ished  in  1778. 
America,    was    a    Boston    loyalist,    and 


246  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Higginfon,  is  now  ready  for  failing,  and  is  a  conftant  trader. 
Mr.  Settle  will  pleafe  to  inform  the  Com1?.6  of  the  above  & 
thereby  oblige, 

His  humble  fervant, 

GEORGE  HAYLEY. 
Eaft  India  H?   10  Aug*  1773. 


To  GREY  COOPER,  Efqr-.-  or  JN°-    ROBINSON,  Efqr- 

Sir: 

By  order  of  the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  United 
Eaft  India  Compy,  I  tranfmit  you  the  enclofed  petition,  with 
their  requeft  that  you  will  be  pleafed  to  lay  the  fame  before 
the  Right  Hon'ble  the  Lords  Commiflioners  of  the  Treafury. 

I  am,  very  refpe<5Hully,  fir, 

Your  moft  obed1  &  hum.  fer1 

PETER  MITCHELL,  See*- 


To  THE  RIGHT    HON'BLE   THE    LORDS    COMMISSIONERS  OF  His 

MAJESTY'S  TREASURY. 

The  humble   Petition  of  the   United   Company  of  Merchants 
of  England  trading  to  the  Eaft  Indies. 

Sheweth : 

That  by  an  A6t  paffed  in  the  laft  feffion  of  Parliament,  it 
is  among  other  things  ena<5ted,  "  That  it  mail  and  may  be 
lawful  for  the  Commrflioners  of  his  Majefty's  treafury,  or 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  247 

any  three  or  more  of  them,  or  the  High  Treafurer  for  the 
time  being,  to  grant  a  licence  or  licences  to  the  faid  United 
Company,  to  take  out  of  their  warehoufes  fuch  quantity  or 
quantities  of  tea  as  the  faid  Commiffioners  of  the  Treafury, 
or  any  three  or  more  of  them,  or  the  High  Treafurer  for 
the  time  being,  mail  think  fit,  without  the  fame  having  been 
expofed  to  fale  in  this  kingdom,  and  to  export  fuch  tea  to 
any  of  the  Britifh  colonies  or  plantations  in  America,  or  to 
foreign  parts  difcharged  from  the  payment  of  any  of  the 
cuftoms  or  duties  whatfoever." 

That  the  faid  United  Comn.?  have  agreed  to  export  to  the 
Britifh  colonies  or  plantations  in  America  a  quantity  of  teas, 
equal  in  weight  to  1700  large  chefts  of  Bohea  tea,  which 
quantity  will  not  in  the  whole  exceed  fix  hundred  thoufand 
pounds  weight.  And  your  petitioner  having  in  the  affidavit 
hereunto  annexed  mewed  unto  your  lords?-8  that  after  the 
taking  out  of  their  warehoufes  the  faid  quantities  of  teas  fo 
intended  to  be  exported,  that  there  will  be  left  remaining 
in  the  warehoufes  of  the  faid  United  Company  a  quantity  of 
tea  not  lefs  than  ten  millions  of  pounds  weight,  as  by  the 
faid  Act  is  directed. 

Your  petitioners  therefore  pray  your  lordfhips  to  grant 
them  a  licence  to  take  out  of  their  warehoufes  the  quantities 
of  teas  above  mentioned,  not  exceeding  in  the  whole  fix 
hundred  thoufand  pounds  weight,  without  the  fame  having 
been  expofed  to  fale  in  this  kingdom,  and  to  export  fuch 
tea  difcharged  from  the  payment  of  any  cuftoms  or  duties 
whatfoever. 

By  order  of  the  Court  of   Directors  of   the  faid  Company. 

P.  MITCHELL,  Secy- 
Eaft  India  Ho.   19*  April,   1773. 

28 


248  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

LICENCE    TO    EXPORT    TEA. 

After  our  hearty  commendations.  Whereas,  the  united 
company  of  merchants  of  England  trading  to  the  Eaft  Indies, 
have,  by  the  annexed  petition,  humbly  prayed  us  to  grant 
them,  in  purfuance  of  an  Act  paffed  the  laft  feffion  of  Par- 
liament, a  licence  to  take  out  of  their  warehoufes  a  quantity 
of  teas,  equal  in  weight  to  one  thoufand  feven  hundred  large 
chefls  of  Bohea  tea,  which  quantity  will  not  in  the  whole 
exceed  fix  hundred  thoufand  pounds  weight,  without  the 
fame  having  been  expofed  to  fale  in  this  kingdom,  and  to 
export  fuch  tea  difcharged  from  the  payment  of  any  cuftoms 
or  duties  whatfoever,  to  the  Britifh  colonies  or  plantations 
in  America.  And  it  appearing  to  us  by  the  annexed  affi- 
davit, that  there  will  be  left  remaining  in  their  warehoufes 
a  quantity  of  tea  not  lefs  than  ten  millions  of  pounds 
weight,  as  by  the  faid  Act  is  provided  and  directed.  Now 
we,  having  taken  the  faid  application  and  the  feveral  matters 
and  things  therein  fet  forth  into  our  confideration,  do  think 
fit  to  comply  with  the  requeft  of  the  faid  petitioners.  And 
in  purfuance  of  the  powers  given  unto  us  by  the  faid  Act, 
we  do  hereby  authorife,  permit  and  grant  licence  to  the 
faid  Company  to  take  out  of  their  warehoufes  the  faid 
quantity  of  tea,  not  exceeding  in  the  whole  fix  hundred 
thoufand  pounds  weight,  without  the  fame  having  been 
expofed  to  fale  in  this  kingdom,  and  to  export  fuch  teas 
difcharged  from  the  payment  of  any  cuftoms  or  duties  what- 
foever, to  any  of  the  Britifh  colonies  or  plantations  in 
America.  Neverthelefs,  you  are  therein  to  take  efpecial 
care,  that  all  and  every  the  rules,  regulations  &  reftrictions 
and  orders  directed  by  the  faid  recited  Act,  relating  to  the 


LORD    NORTH. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  251 

exportation  of  fuch  teas,  or  any  ways  concerning  the  fame, 
be  in  all  and  every  refpecl;  fully  obeyed  and  obferved.  And 
for  fo  doing,  this  fhall  be  as  well  to  you  as  to  the  faid 
Company,  and  to  all  other  officers  &  perfons  whatfoever 
herein  concerned,  a  fufficient  warrant. 

Given  under  our  hands  and  feals  at  the  Treafury  Cham- 
bers, Whitehall,  the  20-^  day  of  Auguft,  one  thoufand  feven 
hundred  and  feventy  three ;  in  the  thirteenth  year  of  the 
reign  of  our  fovereign  lord,  George  the  Third,  King  of  Great 
Britain,  France  and  Ireland,  and  fo  forth. 

NORTH. 

C.  TOWNSHEND. 

C.  J.  Fox. 

To  our  very  loving  friends  the  Commiffioners,  for  managing 
His  Majefly's  Revenues  of  Cufloms  and  Excife,  now  and 
for  the  time  being,  and  to  all  other  officers  and  perfons 
herein  concerned. 


Eaft  India  Company,  Licence  to  Export  Teas 
Hon'ble  Sirs : 

We  have  the  fhip  Eleanor,  James  Bruce,  about  250 
tons,  (a  conftant  trader,)  which  we  intend  for  Bofton,  and 
fhould  be  much  obliged  for  the  freight  of  the  teas  you 
intend  exporting  to  that  place. 

We  have  no  fhip  bound  to  South  Carolina,  but  are  much 
obliged  for  the  preference  given  us.      We  are,  firs, 

Your  moft  h'ble  ferts- 

LANE,  SON  &  FRASER. 
Nicholas  Lane,  61.1?  Augs-    1773. 

The   Hon'ble  the  Court  of  Directors,  &c.,  &c. 


252  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

John    Dorrien,    Efqr-  recommends   for    Bofton,   the    Beaver, 
Capt"  Coffin. 


Sir: 

I  wrote  you  under  date  of  the  5*  inft1  that  you 
would  be  pleafed  to  inform  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes, 
whether  you  had  a  conftant  trader  ready  to  fail  for  Bofton 
or  South  Carolina,  but  mould  have  faid  to  Bofton  only.  I 
am  therefore  to  defire  the  favor  of  an  anfwer  whether  you 
ha\e  a  conftant  trader  ready  for  that  colony. 

• 

I  am,  &c.,  &c., 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  H°-   Aug1  10,   1773. 

Alex.  Champion,  Efq: 


Sir: 

In  anfwer  to  your  efteemed  of  the  5th  and  ioth  cur- 
rent, am  obliged  by  the  favor  intended,  but  at  prefent  have 
only  one  fhip  under  my  care  bound  to  Bofton,  who  will 
depart  in  a  very  few  days,  but  fhe  is  not  a  conftant  trader. 
It  is  not,  therefore,  in  my  power  to  accept  of  the  offer. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  hum.  ferv1- 

ALEXANDER  CHAMPION. 
Bifhopgate  Street,  Aug1   10,  1773. 
Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  253 

Hon'ble  Sir: 

Being  informed  you  have  fome  teas  to  fhip  to 
America,  I  have  now  a  veffel,  Britifh  built,  burthen  about 
1 60  tons,  which  fhould  be  glad  to  lett  to  your  honors  for 
the  above  purpofe. 

I  am,  with  due  regard,  hon'ble  firs, 

Your  moil  obed1  fervt1, 

THOS.  WALTERS. 
Carolina  Coffee  Houfe, 

Birchen  Lane,   17$  Aug1  1773. 

The  Elizabeth,  John  Scott,  for  any  part  of  America. 

To  the   Hon'ble  Directors  of 
the  Eaft  India  Company. 


Mr.  Abraham  Dupies,  in  Gracechurch  Street,  will  become 
obligated  for  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  of  Boflon. 


Gentlemen  : 

I  have  a  veffel  in  this  port,  which  will  be  ready 
to  return  to  America  in  a  few  days,  therefore  take  the 
opportunity  to  acquaint  you  that  I  am  willing  to  take  on 
board  her  600  chefts  of  tea,  either  for  New  York  or  Phila- 
delphia, at  the  a  cuftomary  freight  given  from  hence  to 
thofe  places. 

I  am,  gentl"  your  mofl  hum.  fervant, 

JOSEPH  CABOT. 
Threadneedle  Street,  24  Aug1  1773. 

To  the  Hon'ble  Committee  of  Warehoufes. 


254  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


London,  Aug1  26,   1773. 
Sir: 

We  pray  you  to  inform  the  Com1"  of  Warehoufes 
for  the  Hon'ble  the  Eaft  India  Company  that  we  have  a 
fhip,  river  built,  called  the  Nancy,  commanded  by  Captain 
Colville,  compleately  fitted  and  ready  to  receive  the  tea  for 
New  York,  which  we  beg  leave  to  recommend  to  the  Com- 
mittee. We  are,  fir, 

Your  moft  obedient  and  humble  fervants, 

JOHN  BLACKBURN. 
PIGOU  &  BOOTH. 
WM.  KELLY  &  Co. 
Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


Sir: 

Pleafe  to  acquaint  the  Hon'ble  Committee  of  Ware- 
houfes, that  we  have  taken  up  the  Polly,  Cap1  Ayres,  for 
Philadelphia,  to. carry  the  Company's  tea  to  that  port,  which 
veffel  lays  at  Princes  Stairs,  Rotherhith,  and  was  built  at 
Ipfwich,  in  the  year  1765.  She  is  now  ready  to  take  in. 
We  are,  firs, 

Your  moft  h'ble  ferv* 

PIGOU  &  BOOTH, 

For  selves  &  GEORGE  BROWNE, 

SAMUEL  WHARTON  &  GILBERT  BARKLEY. 

Mark  Lane,  31  ft  Aug1  1773. 
Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  255 

Sir: 

Your  remarks  to  the  bond  offered  you,  relative  to 
the  600  chefts  of  tea,  which  are  to  be  exported  to  New 
York,  have  been  laid  before  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes, 
and  they  are  of  opinion  that  the  faid  bond  is  according  to 
the  agreement  made  with  the  feveral  gentlemen  for  the  dif- 
ferent Colonies,  and  the  merchants  who  are  concerned  for 
the  tea  to  Bofton,  have  executed  their  bonds  agreeable 
thereto,  and  Meffrs.  Wharton,  Pigou  &  Barkley  have  agreed 
alfo  to  execute  on  Thurfday  morning.  Therefore,  I  am  to 
defire  you  to  inform  me  whether  you  will  pleafe  likewife  to 
execute  the  faid  bond. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  h'ble  ferv1 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  31s-1-   Aug4   1773. 

To  John   Blackburn,  Efqr- 
William  Kelly,  Efqr- 


Sir: 

As  the  feveral  gentlemen  mentioned  in  your  polite 
note  of  this  day  have  executed  the  bond,  I  mail  with  pleaf- 
ure  follow  their  example,  and  on  Thurfday  next  I  propofe 
waiting  on  you  for  that  purpofe.  I  am  fir, 

Your  moft  h'ble  ferv1 

JOHN  BLACKBURN. 
Scot's  Yard,  31  ft  Aug'  1773. 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


256  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


Sir: 

Laft  evening  I  had  the  pleafure  to  receive  your 
favor  of  yefterday,  relative  to  the  bond  which  I  am  to  fign 
for  New  York,  and  the  objections  made  to  its  draught  by  Mr. 
Blackburn,  Pigou  and  myfelf,  which  at  the  time  appeared 
refonable  to  us,  but  as  others  have  figned  in  the  form  fhewn 
to  me,  I  don't  mean  to  be  particular,  and  therefore  mall 
conform,  relying  on  the  honor  of  the  Com1.6.6  in  all  future 
matters. 

Tomorrow  I  am  indifpenfably  obliged  to  go  out  of  town 
mall  return  on  Saturday  next,  wait  on  you,  &  execute  the 
bond.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obedi1  &  moft  hum.  ferv1 

WM.  KELLY. 
Crefcent,  Sep.   i-    1773. 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


Freight  of  568  whole,  &    fjo  half  chefls  of  Tea,  Jhipped  on 
the  Polly,   Cap*  Sam1  Ayres,  for  Philadelphia  : 

feet. 

568  chefts  cong  for  freight,  .     .     .  *  .     .     8748.6 
130  quarter  d°-  d°-         656.9 

9405.3 


9405.3  at  is.  6d.  pr  foot,  Philadelphia  currency,  is  ^705   7 


tons. 

Primage  on  235^  at  2S.  fieri*  pr  ton,  is  ^23   10     3 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  257 


Freight  of  Tea  on  the  London,  to  South  Carolina  : 

feet. 

182  chefts  meafure   2644.3  at   IS-  Pr  f°ot>  ;£J32     4  3 

75     d°-  d°-  345.9  d°-      ....         17     5  9 

257  149   10  o 

Primage,  5  pr  cent,     ...  7   10  o 


Freight  of  Tea  Jhipped  on  the   William,  for  Bofton  : 

feet. 
58  chefts  meafure  585.11,  at   is.  4d.  pr  foot,  ^39     i      3  L.  M. 

Primage,     ....        19     6fterlg- 


Freight  of  698  chefts   Tea  on  the  Nancy,  for  New   York  : 

feet. 
698  chefts  meafure  9264.8,  at  25.  3d.  pr  foot,  is 

Currency, ,£1042     5     4 

Sterling,  ,£30     8     2         Primage,  5  pr  ct.     .          52     2     3 

^"1094     7     7 


Freight  of^fj^.  chefts   Tea  on  the  Eleanor,  for  Bofton  : 

feet. 

114  chefts  meafure   1383.4,  at   is.  4d.  .     .,£92     4     5  L.  M. 
Primage,       .     .     .     .    £$     9     o 

Freight  of  112  chefts   Tea  on  the  Beaver,  for  Bofton : 

feet. 

112  chefts  meafure   1375,  at   is.  4d.,  is    .  ^91    13   IOL.M. 

34^   tons  at  25.  pr  ton  primage,     .     ^317     o 
29 


258  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


Whitehall,  Decr  17*   1773. 

Lord  Dartmouth  prefents  his  compliments  to  Mr. 
Wheler,  and  requefls  the  favor  to  fee  him  at  his  office,  at 
Whitehall,  on  Monday  morning  next,  at  eleven  o'clock,  on 
the  fubjecl  of  fome  advices  Lord  Dartmouth  has  lately  re- 
ceived from  America,  refpecling  the  importation  of  tea  from 
England. 


LETTER    TO   SUNDRY   AMERICAN    MERCHANTS. 

Sir: 

The  Comtee  of  Warehoufes  of  the  E.  I.  Comy  defire 
you  would  pleafe  to  inform  them  whether  you  have  receivd 
any  advices  from  Bofton  relative  to  the  faid  Com?-5  exporta- 
tion of  tea  to  that  colony,  and  if  you  have,  to  communicate 
the  purport  thereof  to  the  Committee.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obe.  fer1 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  20*  Decr   1773. 

To  Mr.  Wm.  Palmer,  \  R  # 

>  Bo/ton. 
Brook  Watfon,       j 

Wm.  Greenwood,)    c     ,,    ^      r 

>  £>outh   Carolina. 

J°-    Nutt,  I 

}n°'   Blackburn,  )    A7-        v     , 

w        v  11  f  New   York" 

Wm.  Kelly,        ) 

Fredk  Pigou,  Junr   New   York  &  Philadelphia. 

Geo.  Browne,     )    D,  •,    ,  ,.,  • 
>  Philadelphia. 

Sam1  Wharton, ) 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  259 

LETTER   TO   SUNDRY  AMERICAN   MERCHANTS.1 

Sir: 

The  Comm1.6.6  of  Warehoufes  defire  the  favor  of  an 
anfwer  under  your  hand  to  my  letter  of  yefterday,  relative 
to  the  exportation  of  tea  to  Bofton.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obd1  fervant, 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  2is*   Decr  1773. 

Brook  Watfon,  Efqr-  Bofton. 

Wm.  Greenwood,  Efqr> }    ~     ,/    /-       /• 

>  bouth   Carolina. 
John   Nutt,  Efqr-  j 

John   Blackburn,  Efqr-  New   York. 
Geo.  Browne,  Efqr-  Philadelphia. 


LETTERS    FROM    SUNDRY    AMERICAN 
MERCHANTS, 

WITH    ENCLOSURES    OF    ADVICES    FROM    THE    SEVERAL    COLONIES. 

BOSTON. 

From  Mr.  Palmer. 

Mr.   Palmer  has    received  no    material    advices  from 
Bofton  fmce  the  confignment  has  taken  place,  but  has  letters 
of  as  late  a  date  from  thence   as    the  3d  of    Novemr,    one    of 
which  mentions  there  was  no  tea  then  to  be  bought. 
Eaft  India  Houfe,  2ift  Decr   1773 

1  These    two     letters    following    each      anxiety   of    the    Company,   in    reference 
other    so    closely,    plainly   manifest    the      to  their  shipments  of  tea  to  Boston. 


260  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Garlick  Hill,  22d  Decemr  1773. 

To  the  Handle  the  Committee  of  Warehoufes,  Eajl  India  Houfe. 

Gentm: 

In  compliance  with  your  requefl,  we  fend  you  en- 
clofed  extracts  from  the  letters  which  we  have  lately  received 
from  Boflon  relative  to  the  Com5;?  teas  fent  there. 

We  are,  gentn 

Your  moft  hum.  fervts 

WATSON  &  RASHLEIGH. 


Extraft  of  a  Letter  dated  Bofton,  i8th   Ottor"  1773  : 

"  But  what  difficulties  may  arife  from  the  difaffection  of 
the  merchants  and  importers  of  tea  to  this  meafure  of  the 
India  Company,  I  am  not  yet  able  to  fay.  It  feems  at 
prefent  to  be  a  matter  of  much  fpeculation,  and  if  one  is  to 
credit  the  prints,  no  fmall  oppofition  will  be  made  thereto. 
However,  I  am  in  hopes  it  will  be  otherwife,  and  taking  it 
for  granted  that  the  tea  mould  arrive,  and  no  obftacle 
happen  to  prevent  its  being  landed  and  difpofed  of,  agree- 
ably to  the  inftructions  of  the  Company,  then  I  am  to  add 
that  you  may  be  affured  I  mail  ftricHy  conform  to  the 
inftruclions  which  I  may  jointly  receive  refpecling  it,  paying 
all  due  regard  to  the  contents  of  your  letter. 

"  I  know  not  how  to  write  more  fully  hereon  until  the  tea 
arrives,  and  what  may  pombly  be  the  confequences  attending 
it.  My  friends  feem  to  think  it  will  fubfide  ;  others  are  of 
a  contrary  opinion." 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  261 

Extract  of  a  Letter  dated  Bofton,  jo  O£lr-'  1773: 

"  I  omitted  a  letter  to  you  in  particular  when  I  wrote  to 
your  houfe  the  ioth  infl.,  becaufe  I  thought  it  was  probable, 
both  from  the  contents  of  your  letter  then  received,  as  well 
as  from  the  public  reports,  that  the  tea  you  mention  as 
coming  from  the  India  Comy  might  every  day  be  expected 
to  arrive,  as  you  fay  4  Aug1-  they  intended  fhipping  300 
chefts  immediately,  but  by  my  letter,  this  day  received  by  a 
veffel  from  London,  it  is  not  to  be  fent. 

"  I  perceive  by  the  prints,  that  the  clamour  is  ftill  con- 
tinued againft  this  meafure  of  the  India  Company,  and  feems 
to  be  purfued  with  rather  more  warmth  in  fome  of  the 
Southern  Colonies  than  in  this.  For  my  own  part  I  am 
not  fufficiently  ikilled  in  politicks  to  fee  the  pernicious  con- 
fequences  which  'tis  faid  muft  arife  therefrom.  If  they  would 
prevent  the  Tea  A61  being  enforced,  or  the  payment  of  the 
revenue  arifmg  therefrom  to  Government,  methinks  they 
mould  either  not  import  any  tea,  or  rather  not  confume  any, 
and  then  the  end  would  be  anfwered  at  once.  But  while 
there  is  fuch  a  vaft  quantity  exported  every  year  by  fo  con. 
fiderable  a  number  of  perfons,  who  all  pay  the  duty  thereof 
on  its  arrival,  I  do  not  fee  why  every  importer,  nay,  every 
confumer  thereof,  do  not  as  much  contribute  to  inforce  the 
Tea  Act  as  the  India  Compy  themfelves,  or  the  perfons  to 
whom  they  may  think  proper  to  confign  their  tea  for  fale. 
Nor  can  I  but  be  of  opinion  that  the  uneafmefs  is  fomented, 
if  not  originated,  principally  by  thofe  perfons  concerned  in 
the  Holland  trade,  and  thereby  introduce  large  quantities  of 
tea,  which,  paying  no  duty,  by  that  means  they  can  afford 
to  underfell  thofe  who  do  pay  it,  and  this  trade,  I  am  in- 


262  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

formed,    is    much    more    practiced    in    the    Southern    Govern- 
ments than  this  way. 

"  To  what  lengths  the  oppofition  to  this  tea's  being 
brought  or  landed,  or  difpofed  of,  may  be  carried,  muft  be 
left  to  time  to  determine." 


ExtraEl  of  a  Letter  dated  BoJIon,  4  Novr-'  1773 : 

"  Thus  far  I  had  wrote  you  with  intentions  to  forward  by 
firft  conveyance,  when  I  found  there  was  to  be  a  mufter  of 
the  people,  to  demand  that  the  perfons  who  are  to  be  em- 
ployed as  agents  for  difpofing  of  the  tea  which  may  come 
from  the  India  Company,  would  refign  their  commiffions  & 
fwear  (under  Liberty  Tree)  to  return  the  tea  by  the  fame 
or  firfl  veffels  for  London,  &c.  You  will  be  fully  acquainted 
of  their  unreafonable  proceedings.  After  the  time  had 
elapfed  which  was  fixed  upon  for  the  gentlemen  to  appear 
and  refign,  on  their  not  complying  with  the  order,  they 
marched  down  in  a  body  to  Mr.  Clarke's  ftore,  where  we 
were,  and  not  receiving  fuch  an  anfwer  as  they  demanded, 
they  began  an  attack  upon  the  ffcore  and  thofe  within,  break- 
ing down  doors,  flinging  about  mud,  &c.,  for  about  an  hour, 
when  they  began  to  difperfe,  and  a  number  of  gentln,  friends 
of  thofe  agents  coming  to  their  affiftance,  they  left  the  ftore 
and  went  upon  change,  but  met  with  no  further  infult,  tho' 
there  is  much  threatening.  As  the  tea  is  not  arrived,  and 
it  is  uncertain  when  it  may,  I  purpofe  to  write  you  again 
fpeedily. 

"  In  the  interim,   I  am,  &c." 


gM»jg«i    -    g         £?.'<<     *Tfes">J  | 

«j<2i;«M|  ^^1 

_»  J*    jt  A    A    A  iS^fr  AixS.     \»  I  /.$ 


lJhT-%?  S 

h*%    X.  js 

«*  d  C        ^  ^ 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  267 

SOUTH  CAROLINA. 
Letter  from  Mr.   Greenwood. 

Sir: 

In  anfwer  to  your  letter  of  the  2Oth  inft.,  I  beg  you 
would  be  pleafed  to  inform  the  Com*?.6  of  Warehoufes  that  I 
have  yet  received  no  advices  from  South  Carolina,  relative 
to  the  Compy>s  exportation  of  tea.  When  I  do,  they  may 
depend  I  will  take  the  earlieft  opportunity  to  communicate 
the  fame  to  them. 

I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obe1  ferv1 

WM.  GREENWOOD 
Queen  Street,  22d  Decr>   1773. 

Mr.  Settle. 


From  Mr.  Nutt. 

Gentlemen  : 

In  compliance  with  your  defire,  intimated  to  me  by 
Mr.  Settle,  reflecting  any  information  received  from  South 
Carolina,  concerning  the  teas  exported  by  the  Eafl  I.  Comy 
to  that  Colony,  I  have  the  honor  to  acquaint  you  that  the 
veffel  in  which  they  were  fhipped  did  not  fail  from  England 
before  the  i8th  October,  and  the  lateft  dates  from  thence  are 


268  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

only  the   Ist  Novr-'  fo    that  we   cannot  expect  for   fome    time 
to  hear  of  her  arrival.       I  have  the  honor  to  be,  gentn-> 

Your  moft  obed1  hum.  fervt-> 

JOHN  NUTT. 
Broad  Street,  22nd  Decemr>  1773. 

To  the  Com4"  of  Warehoufes,  &c.,  &c.,  &c. 


NEW    YORK. 

Letter  from  Mr.  Blackburn. 

Sir: 

I  am  honored  with  your  two  letters  of  the  2Oth  & 
2 1  ft  curr1,  defiring  me  to  inform  the  Com1-6.6  of  Warehoufes 
if  I  have  received  any  advices  from  New  York  relative  to 
the  Com'8  exportation  of  tea  to  that  Colony. 

The  veffel  wherein  the  tea  was  fhipped  was  not  arrived 
when  the  laft  letters  were  difpatched  from  thence,  confe- 
quently  no  precife  judgment  can  be  formed  whether  or  not 
it  would  be  permitted  to  be  landed ;  but  I  flatter  myfelf  from 
the  difpofition  of  the  principal  gentle11  of  New  York,  who 
are  men  of  moderation,  candour  and  prudence,  and  as  firmly 
attached  to  the  Government  and  laws  of  this  Kingdom  as 
any  of  his  Majefty's  fubjecls ;  that  they  will,  by  their  example 
and  influence,  be  able  to  fupprefs  every  riot  and  difturbance 
occafioned  by  the  oppofers  of  this  meafure. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  269 

I  expect;  a  fhip  from  New  York,  which  was  to  depart 
about  the  26th  Novemr>  by  which  I  mall  receive  fome  frelh 
intelligence  relative  to  this  bufmefs,  and  if  I  mould  be 
furnifhed  with  any  advices  that  regard  the  intereft  of  the 
Company,  I  mail  not  fail  to  wait  on  the  Directors  immedi- 
ately. I  have  the  honor  to  be,  fir, 

Your  moft  obed4  &  hum.  fer* 

JOHN   BLACKBURN. 
Scots  Yard,  22nd  Decr>   1773. 

Mr.  Wm.  Settle. 


Extract  of  a  Letter  from  a  merchant  in  New  York,  to  Wm. 
Kelly,  of  London,  dated  5th  Novr>  1773  : 

"  The  introduction  of  the  Eaft  India  Comyany's  tea  is 
violently  oppofed  here,  by  a  fet  of  men  who  fhamefully  live 
by  monopolizing  tea  in  the  fmuggling  way." 

Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Abraham  Lott,  Efqr~'  of  New 
York,  to  Wm.  Kelly  ^  of  London,  dated  New  York,  $th 
Novr''  /77J,  &  received  with  the  above  mentioned  Extract 
of  Mr.  Kelly,  22d  Decr-> 


"  Herewith  you  will  receive  feveral  papers  relating  to  the 
importation  of  the  India  Comy.'.s  tea.  If  it  comes  out  free 
of  a  duty  here  on  importation,  things  I  believe  may  go 

1  William    Kelly    is,    I    suppose,    the  pp.  75,  76.     "  A  certain  Mr.  Kelly,  former 

person  referred  to  in  the  following  par-  resident  of    the   city,  (New  York,)   then 

agraph  in  Leake's  "  Life  of  John  Lamb,"  in  London,  and  canvassing  some  one  of 
30 


270  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

quiet  enough,  tho'  you  will  obferve  much  is  faid  againft 
it  even  on  that  fuppofition.  But  if  it  fhould  be  fubjecl;  to 
a  duty  here,  I  am  much  in  doubt  whether  it  will  be  fafe, 
as  almoft  every  body  in  that  cafe  fpeaks  againft  the  ad- 
miffion  of  it,  fo  that,  altho'  I  am  well  affured  that  the 
Governor  will  not  fuffer  the  laws  to  be  trampled  on,  yet 
there  will  be  no  fuch  thing  as  felling  it,  as  the  people  would 
rather  buy  fo  much  poifon,  than  the  tea  with  the  duty 
thereon,  calculated  (they  fay)  to  enflave  them  and  their 
pofterity,  and  therefore  are  determined  not  to  take  what 
they  call  the  naufeous  draft.  A  little  time  will  determine 
how  matters  will  terminate,  that  is,  if  the  tea  comes  out. 
If  it  does,  I  hope  it  may  come  frree  of  duty,  as  by  that 
means  much  trouble  arid  anxiety  will  be  faved  by  the  agents. 
I  do  affure  you  they  have  all  been  very  uneafy,  tho'  at  the 
fame  time  determined  to  do  their  duty,  but  in  the  moft 
prudent  &  quiet  manner.  It  is  now  two  o'clock,  P.M.,  when 
I  received  the  paper  figned  Caffius,  in  which  you  will  find 

Mr.  L R de    handfomely   complimented,  and    yourfelf 

feverely  handled,  on  a  fuppofition  that  you  mould  have 
fpoken  words  to  the  import,  as  afferted  in  the  paper.  Mr. 

the    Ministerial    Boroughs   for   an    elec-  had  shown  his  energy    in  putting  down 

tion  to  Parliament,  ridiculed   the  appre-  insurrectionary     movements     in     North 

hensions  of  those  who  refused  to  insure  Carolina.      The  Committee  of  Vigilance 

the    cargoes    of    tea    from    destruction,  took  note  of  these  offensive  declarations, 

and   declared  that  if  animosities  should  and  on   November  5,  called  a  meeting 

rise  as  high   as   during  the  time   of  the  at  the    Coffee   House.     The   people  as- 

Stamp    Act,    the    tea    might    safely    be  sembled,    denounced    Kelly,    and    burnt 

shipped    and    securely    landed.        That  his   effigy,  and  after  the   representative 

then    the   Colony   had    an   old  man    to  was    consumed,    a  gentleman    observed 

deal  with  (Golden);  but  now  they  would  that    it  was    matter    of   regret    that    the 

have     to     contend      with      a      vigorous  principal  could  not  be  dealt  with  in  the 

military    governor,    (Tryon, )    one     who  same  summary  and  exemplary  manner." 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  271 

R e's  name  is  not  mentioned,  but  there   is  no  doubt  but 

he  is  the  perfon  alluded  to,  as  upon  the  arrival  of  the  Lon- 
don mips,  who  refufed  to  bring  the  tea.  It  was  currently 
reported  that  he  had  wrote  his  partner  nearly  in  the  fame 
words  as  mentioned  in  the  paper.  You  are  the  beft  judge 
of  the  truth  of  the  affertion,  but  whether  true  or  not,  his 
conduct  is  ungenerous  and  mean.  If  the  paper  fpeaks 
truth,  that  he  was  offered  part  of  the  confignment  of  tea, 
he  muft  be  a  man  of  great  influence  to  have  fo  great  an 
offer  made  him,  when  fo  many  other  people  of  weight  were 
applying  for  it  and  could  not  obtain  it." 


From.  Mr.  Fredk  Pigou,  Junr- 

Sir: 

Pleafe  to  acquaint  the  Com'-6  of  Warehoufes  of  the 
Hon'ble  the  Eaft  India  Company,  that  from  the  advices  I 
have  received  from  Philadelphia,  I  Ihould  be  of  opinion  the 
tea  fent  to  that  place  will,  if  landed,  meet  with  much  diffi- 
culty in  being  difpofed  of. 

At  New  York,  I  am  of  opinion  it  will  meet  with  lefs 
oppofition,  and  may  poffibly  be  fold  in  that  city.  It  would 
have  been  fortunate  if  the  New  York  veffel  could  have 
arrived  as  foon  or  before  the  Philadelphia  fhip. 

I  am,  fir,  your  moft  hum.  ferv1 

FRED'K  PIGOU,  Junr 
Mark  Lane,  21  ft  Decr"   1773. 

To  Mr.  Settle. 


272  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


PHILADELPHIA. 

Letter  from  Mr.  Geo.  Browne. 

Sir: 

The  advice  I  have  from  my  brother  at  Philadelphia, 
relative  to  the  Com5:'.8  confignment  of  tea,  is,  that  it  was 
very  doubtful  how  it  would  be  received  there,  the  meafure 
being  looked  upon  in  an  unfavorable  view  in  general.  He 
had  only  jurt  received  an  account  (from  another  hand)  of  his 
being  nominated  one  of  the  agents,  and  refers  me  to  the 
public  prints  for  an  account  of  the  resolutions  entered  into 
by  the  people  in  oppofition  to  it.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obedi'  fer* 

GEO.  BROWNE. 
Mr.  Settle. 


From  Mr.  Sam1   Wharton. 

Sir: 

I  underftand  that  Mr.  Walpole,  of  Lincolns  Inn 
Fields,  had  received  fome  advices  from  my  brother,  reflecting 
the  teas  fent  to  Philadelphia.  I  applied  to  him  for  them, 
and  he  requefted  that  I  would  fend  them  to  you,  with  what 
intelligence  I  had  myfelf  received.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  very  hum.  ferv1 

SAMUEL  WHARTON. 
Argyle  Street,  Decemr  23,  1773. 

Mr.  Settle. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  273 


Extract  of  a  Letter  from  Thomas  Wharton^  Efqr  of 
Philadelphia,  dated  Oft.  5,  ///J,  to  Sam1  Wharton,  in 
London  : 

"  I  have  clofely  attended  to  the  courfe  of  your  arguments, 
and  think  they  are  of  great  weight,  but  you  know  it  is 
impoffible  always  to  form  a  true  judgment  from  what  real 
motives  an  oppofition  fprings,  as  the  fmugglers  and  London 
importers  may  both  declare  that  this  duty  is  flamping  the 
Americans  with  the  badge  of  flavery,  and  notwithftanding 
the  Directors  of  the  Eaft  India  Company  have  a  juft  right 
to  fend  their  teas  where  they  think  proper,  yet  the  Ameri- 
cans allege  they  may  and  ought  to  refufe  to  purchafe  and 
use  it. 

"  A  little  time  after  the  fhip's  arrival  we  mall  know  what 
is  to  be  done,  and  I  expect  we  mail  before  that  time  have 
a  conference  with  the  agents  from  New  York,  which  I  pro- 
pofed,  that  our  conduct  might  be  uniform,  and  as  much  as 
poffible  anfwer  the  end  of  our  appointment? 


1  Thomas  Wharton  was  a  wealthy  and  later  period  was  proscribed  as  an  enemy 

influential  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  and  to    his    coun.ry,    and    lost    his     estate, 

of    the    sect    called   Quakers.       In    the  under  the  Confiscation  Acts  of  Pennsyl- 

enterprise  of  Galloway  and  Goddard  to  vania.     His   son,  Thomas  Wharton,  Jr., 

establish    the    "  Chronicle,"    a    leading  was   a   distinguished  Whig,  and    Presi- 

newspaper,    he   was    their   partner,  and  dent  of  Pennsylania.     In  the  early  part 

the  parties  supposed  that  Franklin,  who  of  the  Revolution,  and  indeed  until  the 

was  a   correspondent  of   Wharton's,  on  time  when    blood  was  shed,  father   and 

his    return    from    England,   would    join  son  acted  together,  and  were   members 

them.      In    1777,   he  was    apprehended,  of  the  same  deliberative  assemblies  and 

and  sent  prisoner  to  Virginia,  and  at  a  committees. 


274  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


Extracts  of  two  Letters  from  Thos-  Warton,  Efqr-f  of  Phila- 
delphia, dated  O£l.  5  and  Off.  30,  //7J,  to  the  Horible 
T/ws-  Walpole,  of  London  : 

"  About  a  week  before  the  arrival  of  the  September 
mail,  a  letter  reached  this  city,  informing  us  that  particular 
perfons  (tho'  not  all  of  them  the  proper  ones)  were  nomi- 
nated agents  for  the  Eaft  India  Directors.  This  gave  the 
inhabitants  a  knowledge  of  the  intention  of  the  Directors, 
and  fome  perfons  immediately  declared,  that  as  the  duty 
was  ftill  retained,  that,  tho'  fmall,  yet  it  as  implicitly  fixed 
the  power  and  eftablifhed  the  badge  of  flavery,  as  if  it  had 
been  greater.  The  fame  fentiments,  I  am  told,  are  expreffed 
in  letters  from  New  York.  At  prefent,  therefore,  it  is 
impoffible  to  fay  what  meafures  the  people  will  take  on  this 
occafion,  but  I  mould  expect  they  will  not  hinder  the  tea 
being  landed,  if  they  infift  on  its  not  being  fold,  till  the 
duty  is  taken  off  by  Act  of  Parliament,  or  the  Eaft  India 
Directors  fatisfy  the  Commiffioners  of  the  Cuftoms  in  Lon- 
don. For,  notwithftanding,  it  may  juftly  be  urged  that  the 
Directors  of  the  Eaft  India  Compy  have  a  right  to  export 
their  teas  to  North  America,  yet,  as  it  is  faid,  the  inhabi- 
tants have  alfo  a  right  of  judgment  reflecting  the  purchafe 
and  confumption.  I  mould  expect,  that  if  the  opposition 
takes  place,  it  will  reft  with  their  adherence  to  an  engage- 
ment of  this  kind. 

"  I  can  have  no  doubt  that  the  India  Comy  would  find 
their  fales  lucrative,  and  that  an  extenfion  of  trade  would 
certainly  take  place,  by  comprehending  the  articles  of  pepper, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  275 

fpices,  and  filks  in  their  exports  ;  great  quantities  of  the 
two  firft  articles  have  certainly  been  introduced  in  the 
Continent  from  Holland  and  thro'  the  Weft  Indies,  and 
therefore  it  is  that  I  apprehend  the  London  merchants  are 
miftaken  when  they  fay  they  already  fhip  as  much  as  the 
Continent  can  confume,  for  through  them  are  imported  only 
fuch  quantities  of  fpices,  &c.,  as  the  merchant  here  can 
vend,  after  the  run  goods  are  fold,  they  being  imported 
cheaper  than  thofe  from  England,  are  naturally  firft  fold. 
But  if  the  Eaft  India  Company  mould  think  proper  to  ex- 
tend their  trade,  I  cannot  doubt  it  would  in  a  great  meafure 
put  a  flop  to  the  importation  from  Holland  and  the  Dutch 
Iflands,  and  large  fums  would  annually  pafs  from  America 
to  London  for  thofe  commodities.  But  perhaps  little  more 
mould  be  faid  until  it  is  known  in  what  manner  our  fellow 
countrymen  mail  view  this  fcheme  of  trade." 


"Philadelphia,  Oct.  30,   1773. 

"  I  fhall  endeavor  to  communicate  a  more  full  ftate  of  the 
fentiments  of  my  fellow  citizens  than  I  could  in  my  laft 
letter.  I  could  then  only  conjecture  what  might  be  the 
refult  of  their  judgments  refpecling  the  Hon'ble  the  Direct- 
ors of  the  Eaft  I.  Comy  fending  their  teas  to  this  Continent. 
A  communication  of  fentiments,  taking  place  between  the 
New  Yorkers  &  the  Philadelphians,  foon  produced  a  number 
of  pieces  in  the  public  prints  and  otherwife,  moft  abfolutely 
afferting  the  rights  of  the  Americans,  and  denying  the  power 
of  Parliament  refpecting  the  internal  taxation  of  the  Colonies, 
which  led  into  many  comparifons,  endeavoring  to  (hew  that 


276  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

the  agency  of  the  tea  was  equally  odious  &  dangerous  as 
the  execution  of  the  Stamp  Act  would  have  been.  I  may 
fay  with  great  truth,  that  I  do  not  believe  one  man  in  a 
hundred  was  to  be  met  with  who  approved  of  the  fending 
the  tea,  while  the  duty  was  to  be  paid  here.  Yet  a  great 
number  of  people  acknowledged  the  right  of  the  Eaft  India 
Directors  to  export  their  teas  to  America,  and  declared  that 
nothing  lefs  than  a  confirmed  belief  that  the  admitting  this 
mode  of  taxation  would  render  the  affemblies  of  the  people 
mere  cyphers,  could  have  induced  them  to  proceed  in  the 
manner  they  have  done;  for  when  it  was  mentioned  to  them 
that  by  refufmg  to  admit  the  tea  to  be  landed,  they  did  as 
much  deprive  the  India  Company  of  the  natural  rights  of 
Englifh  merchants,  as  the  fubjecting  us  to  the  payment  of 
duty  poffibly  could  affect  us,  they  replyed  that  the  Acl;  of 
Parliament  hindered  the  tea  from  being  landed  until  the  duty 
was  firft  paid  or  fecured,  and  confequently  as  the  Directors 
knew  this,  and  the  oppofition  heretofore  given  by  the  Ameri- 
cans, they  muft  take  what  followed. 

"  You  will  perceive  by  the  refolution  formed  and  entered 
into  on  the  iS1-'  into  what  a  fituation  the  agents  were 
driven,  there  being  no  poffibility  of  perfuading  the  people 
to  wait  till  we  knew  the  real  ftate  of  facts.  The  meeting 
at  the  State  Houfe  confifted,  (it  is  faid)  of  6  or  700,  and  be 
affured,  they  were  as  refpectable  a  body  of  inhabitants  as 
has  been  together  on  any  occafion  ;  many  of  the  firft  rank. 
The  whole  of  their  proceedings  were  conducted  with  the 
greateft  decency  and  firmnefs,  and  without  one  diffenting 
voice.  After  the  refolution  had  paffed,  they  appointed  a 
Com1-6  of  12  perfons,  who,  on  the  18'-  inft.,  about  12  o'clock, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  277 

called  on  James  and  Drinker,  and  then  came  down  to  my 
houfe,  where  they  conducted  themfelves  with  great  decency, 
read  the  refolution,  and  informed  me  they  were  appointed 
by  their  fellow  citizens  to  demand  of  Thos>  &  Ifaac  Wharton, 
whether  we  would  execute  the  truft  if  the  duty  was  to  be 
paid  here  ?  We  told  them  it  involved  us  in  a  difficulty 
which  we  could  not  folve,  becaufe  we  had  not  received  the 
lea/I  intimation  from  the  Directors,  and  therefore  it  was  im- 
poffible  to  know  the  exact  ftate  the  tea  was  to  be  fhipped 
in,  but  that  we  would,  on  being  acquainted  with  the  fituation 
under  which  it  came,  openly  communicate  the  fame,  and 
that  we  would  do  nothing  to  injure  the  property  of  the 
India  Comy  or  enflave  America.  This  anfwer  they  received 
with  great  fatisfaclion,  and  in  the  evening  they  reported  to 
a  unanimous  body  of  citizens  the  anfwers  they  had  received, 
who  gave  Thos-  and  Ifaac  Wharton  very  evident  marks  of 
their  approbation  for  the  candid  anfwer  they  gave. 

"  Should  the  tea  be  fent  fubject  to  the  payment  of  the 
duty,  I  am  fatisfied  it  will  not  be  fuffered  to  be  landed,  and 
that  it  muft  return  to  London,  (unlefs  the  India  Direcl- 
ors  have  in  fuch  cafe  directed  the  captain  where  to  proceed 
with  it,)  which  intimation  may  be  in  time  to  fecure  the 
property  by  infurance  mould  they  incline." 


Copies  of  the  above  advices  were,  by  order  of  the  Com4-?5 
of    Warehoufes,    fent    to    Lord    Dartmouth    in    the    manner 
directed  by  their  minute  of  the  


278  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


BOSTON. 

LETTER   FROM    MR.   JONATHAN    CLARKE    TO 
EDWARD   WHELER,   ESQR 

Bofton,  New  England,   17*  Novr-   1773. 

Sir: 

After  a  long  detention  in  the  Englifh  channel,  and 
a  pretty  long  paffage,  I  arrived  here  this  morning  from 
England,  and  there  being  a  veffel  to  fail  for  London  within 
a  few  hours,  gives  me  an  opportunity  of  writing  you  a  few 
lines  on  the  fubjecl  of  the  confignment  of  tea,  made  to  our 
houfe  by  the  Hon'ble  Eafl  India  Company,  in  which  I  had 
your  friendly  affiilance,  and  of  which  I  mail  always  retain 
a  grateful  fenfe. 

I  find  that  this  meafure  is  an  unpopular  one,  and  before 
my  arrival  fome  meafures  have  been  taken  to  oblige  my 
friends  to  make  a  jrefignation  of  the  trufl,  which  they  have 
not  thought  fit  to  comply  with.  They  have  wrote  to  our 
friend,  Mr.  Abraham  Dupuis,  very  particularly,  refpe6ling 
the  meafures  that  have  been  adopted,  and  to  that  account  I 
muft  beg  leave  to  refer  you,  as  I  have  not  time  to  repeat 
it  by  this  opportunity,  but  I  fhall  keep  the  Company  fully 
advifed  in  future. 

I  fully  fee  that  we  fhall  meet  with  difficulty  in  executing 
this  truft,  but  our  utmoft  endeavors  fhall  be  exerted  to  fulfill 
the  orders  we  may  receive  from  the  Company. 

I  am,  very  refpeclfully  fir,  your  mofl  obliged  h'ble  ferv1 

Edward  Wheler,  Efqr-  JON*    CLARKE. 

Received  from  the  Deputy  Chairman,  5th  Jan1?-   1774. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  279 

LETTER    TO    MR.   ABRAHAM    DUPUIS. 

Sir. 

Mr.  Wheler,  chairman  of  the  Eaft  India  Company, 
having  received  a  letter  from  Jonathan  Clarke,  Efqn>  dated 
Bofton,  1 7th  November  laft,  wherein  he  begs  leave  to  refer 
him  to  you  for  the  meafures  that  have  been  adopted  at 
Bofton,  relative  to  the  Company's  exportation  of  tea  to  that 
Colony,  I  am  directed  by  the  chairman  to  defire  you  would 
be  pleafed  to  communicate  to  him  the  advices  you  have 
received  from  Meffrs.  Clarke  &  Sons,  for  the  information  of 
the  Court  of  Directors  of  the  Eafl  India  Company,  which 
will  be  a  favor  conferred  on  him.  I  am,  fir, 

Your  moft  obd1  fervl> 

WM.  SETTLE. 
Eafl  India  Houfe,  5*  Jany>   1774. 

Abraham  Dupuis,  Efqr-i  Gracechurch  Street. 


LETTER  FROM  MESSRS.  CLARKE  &  SONS,  AT  BOSTON 
TO    MR.  ABR*?    DUPUIS, 

Referred    to    in    Mr.    Clarke  s    Letter    to    the  chairman,    of 

the    ifh  Novr'  1773. 

Bofton,  Novr-'-'   1773. 
Mr.  ABRAHAM  DUPUIS. 

Sir: 

We  now  embrace  the    firft   leifure  we  have,  to  give 
you  an  account  of  the  proceedings  of  fome  of  the  inhabitants 


280  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS 

of  this  town,  relative  to  the  expected  importation  of  teas 
into  this  port  from  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company.  As 
foon  as  it  was  known  here  that  the  Company  had  deter- 
mined on  this  meafure,  and  that  certain  gentlemen  of  this 
town  were  fixed  upon  as  factors,  there  appeared  a  diffatif- 
faction  in  many  perfons.  But  at  firft  there  did  not  appear 
any  refentment  againft  the  fuppofed  factors,  nor  was  there, 
as  far  as  we  ever  heard,  any  mention  made  of  a  defign  to 
bring  them  under  any  obligations  not  to  execute  their  truft, 
but  the  general  voice  among  the  oppofers  of  the  Company's 
plan  was,  that  the  teas  muft  not  be  landed,  or,  if  landed, 
not  fold.  About  three  or  four  weeks  ago,  a  printed  anony- 
mous addrefs  to  the  Company's  factors  was  brought  to  this 
place  by  the  poft,  either  from  New  York  or  Philadelphia, 
but  whether  it  was  fabricated  at  either  of  thofe  places,  or 
this,  we  cannot  determine.  The  defign  of  it  was,  to  repre- 
fent  a  number  of  gentlemen,  who  cannot  juftly  be  confidered 
in  any  other  light  than  commercial  factors,  as  Crown  officers, 
and  they,  in  the  faid  paper,  are  exprefily  put  on  the  fame 
footing  with  the  late  ftamp  officers,  doubtlefs  with  a  defign 
to  render  them  odious  to  the  people,  and  much  is  faid  in  it 
to  diffuade  or  intimidate  them  from  executing  their  expected 
truft.  .Soon  after  this,  a  fecond  anonymous  addrefs,  but 
much  more  inflammatory,  appeared  here  in  one  of  the  newf- 
papers  from  New  York.  Both  thefe  were  printed  in  one  or 
more  of  the  newfpapers  of  this  town,  and  feveral  other  pieces 
were  alfo  publifhed  here,  to  roufe  the  people  to  an  oppofi- 
tion  to  the  Company's  defign,  and  their  rage  againft  us  and 
the  other  gentlemen,  factors  for  the  Company  in  this  place. 
As  things  were  then  circumftanced  in  this  place,  we  judged 
it  might  tend  to  undeceive  many  perfons  that  were  milled, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


28l 


to  publifh  fome  obfervations  on  the  Company's  plan,  to 
anfwer  the  objections  that  were  made  againft  it,  and  to  point 
out  fome  of  the  beneficial  confequences  attending  the  execu- 
tion of  it.  Accordingly  we,  by  the  affiftance  of  a  friend, 
got  printed  in  Meffrs.  Fleet's  Evening  Pofl,  of  the  24th 
October,  a  piece  figned  Z1,  in  which  this  affair  is  canvaffed 
with  as  much  freedom  as  the  temper  of  the  times  would 
bear,  and  altho'  this  was  penned  in  hafte,  and  under  the 
reftriclion  of  the  afore-hinted  fhackle,  we  have  the  fatisfaclion 
to  find,  that  in  the  opinion  of  the  moft  judicious  amongft 
us  here,  every  objection  that  has  been  flarted  againft  the 
Company's  plan  is  fully  anfwered,  and  altho'  this  publiih- 


1  A  portion  of  this  article,  which  fairly 
represents  the  views  of  the  consignees 
on  the  vexed  tea  question,  is  as  follows  : 

"  The  objectors  say  the  tea  duty  will 
be  a  means  of  supporting  the  Parlia- 
ment of  Great  Britain  in  raising  money 
from  us.  How  it  can  affect  this  matter 
I  am  utterly  at  a  loss  to  comprehend. 
Have  not  large  quantities  of  tea  for 
some  years  past  been  imported  into 
this  Province  from  England,  both  on 
account  of  the  dealers  in  tea  there  and 
the  merchants  here,  all  which  have  paid 
the  American  duty  ?  How  in  the  name 
of  common  sense  does  it  differ,  unless 
it  be  in  favor  of  America,  for  a  New 
England  merchant  to  have  his  tea 
shipped  from  Great  Britain,  on  his  own 
account,  or  receive  it  on  commission 
from  the  grocers  there,  and  on  its  arriv- 
al, paying  the  customary  duty,  than  if 
it  had  been  shipped  by  the  East  India 
Company,  who  were  the  original  im- 
porters ?  What  consistency  is  there  in 


making  a  clamour  about  this  small 
branch  of  the  revenue,  whilst  we  si- 
lently pass  over  the  articles  of  sugar, 
molasses  and  rum,  from  which  more 
than  three-fourths  of  the  American  rev- 
enue has  and  always  will  arise,  and 
when  the  Act  of  Parliament  imposing 
duties  on  these  articles  stands  on  the 
same  footing  as  that  respecting  tea,  and 
the  moneys  collected  from  them  are 
applied  to  the  same  purposes  ?  Many 
of  us  complain  of  the  Tea  Act,  not  only 
as  it  affects  our  liberties,  but  as  it 
affects  our  purses,  by  draining  us  annu- 
ally of  a  large  sum  of  money.  But  if 
it  be  considered  that  by  this  step  the 
East  India  Company  have  taken  of 
sending  their  tea  to  market  themselves 
at  their  own  cost,  and  the  saving  that 
is  thereby  made  to  the  merchants  here 
of  commissions,  freight  and  charges  of 
importing  it,  which  will  be  equal  to  the 
whole  annual  tax  that  has  yet  been  paid, 
it  must  silence  that  complaint."  "  Z." 


282  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ment  does  not  feem  to  have  had  its  defigned  effect  as  yet, 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  when  the  people  s  temper  is  become  more 
cool,  that  the  aforefaid  piece,  with  what  has  fmce,  and  may 
hereafter  be  publimed  on  this  fubjecl,  may  not  entirely  fail 
of  the  defign  propofed. 

Befides  thefe  paper  fkirmifhes,  we  would  inform  you  that 
we  were  told  that  there  were  about  two  or  three  weeks  fmce, 
feveral  nightly  meetings,  held  in  various  parts  of  the  town, 
of  a  large  number  of  perfons,  to  confult  and  conclude  on 
fome  method  to  prevent  the  execution  of  the  Company's 
plan,  but  what  was  fixed  at  thefe  meetings  we  could  not 
learn.  But  we  were  not  loft  in  this  uncertainty  long,  for  in 
the  morning  of  the  2"?  inftant,  about  one  o'clock,  we  were 
roufed  out  of  our  fleep  by  a  violent  knocking  at  the  door  of 
our  houfe,  and  on  looking  out  of  the  window  we  faw  (for  the 
moon  fhone  very  bright)  two  men  in  the  courtyard.  One 
of  them  faid  he  had  brought  us  a  letter  from  the  country. 
A  fervant  took  the  letter  of  him  at  the  door,  the  contents 
of  which  were  as  follows  : 

"  Bofton,   i ft  Nov.,   1773. 
Richard  Clarke  &  Son  : 

The  Freemen  of  this  Province  underftand,  from 
good  authority,  that  there  is  a  quantity  of  tea  configned  to 
your  houfe  by  the  Eaft  India  Company,  which  is  deftructive 
to  the  happinefs  of  every  well-wifher  to  his  country.  It  is 
therefore  expected  that  you  perfonally  appear  at  Liberty 
Tree,  on  Wednefday  next,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  day,  to 
make  a  public  refignation  of  your  commiffion,  agreeable  to 
a  notification  of  this  day  for  that  purpofe. 

Fail  not  upon  your  peril.  O.  C." 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  283 

Two  letters  of  the  fame  tenor  were  fent  in  the  fame 
manner  to  the  other  factors.  On  going  abroad  we  found  a 
number  of  printed  notifications  ported  up  in  various  parts 
of  the  town,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy : 

"  To  the  Freemen  of  this  and  the  other  Towns  in  the 
Province. 

Gentlemen : 

You  are  defired  to  meet  at  Liberty  Tree,  next 
Wednefday,  at  twelve  o'clock  at  noon  day,  then  and  there 
to  hear  the  perfons  to  whom  the  tea,  fhipped  by  the  Eaft 
India  Company,  is  configned,  make  a  public  refignation  of 
their  office  as  confignees,  upon  oath.  And  alfo  fwear  that 
they  will  refhip  any  teas  that  may  be  configned  to  them  by 
the  faid  Company,  by  the  firft  veffel  failing  for  London. 

Bofton,  Novr-   ist,   1773.  O.  C.,  Secrey- " 

:  In  this  you  may  obferve  a  delufory  defign  to  create  a 
public  belief  that  the  factors  had  confented  to  refign  their 
truft  on  Wednefday,  the  3d  inft.,  on  which  day  we  were 
fummoned  by  the  above-mentioned  letter  to  appear  at 
Liberty  Tree,  at  1 1  o'clock,  A.M.  All  the  bells  of  the  meeting- 
houfes  for  public  worfhip  were  fet  a-ringing  and  continued 
ringing  till  twelve  ;  the  town  cryer  went  thro'  the  town 
fummoning  the  people  to  affemble  at  Liberty  Tree.  By 
thefe  methods,  and  fome  more  fecret  ones  made  ufe  of  by 
the  authors  of  this  defign,  a  number  of  people,  fuppofed  by 
fome  to  be  abont  500,  and  by  others  more,  were  collected 
at  the  time  and  place  mentioned  in  the  printed  notifica- 
tion. They  confided  chiefly  of  people  of  the  loweft  rank, 


284  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

very  few  reputable  tradesmen,  as  we  are  informed,  appeared 
amongft  them.  There  were  indeed  two  merchants,  reputed 
rich,  and  the  felectmen  of  the  town,  but  thefe  laft  fay  they 
went  to  prevent  diforder.  The  gentlemen  who  are  fup- 
pofed  the  defigned  factors  for  the  Eaft  India  Compy,  viz : 
Mr.  Thos-  Hutchinfon,  Mr.  Faneuil,  Mr.  Winflow  &  Meffrs. 
Clarke,  met  in  the  forenoon  of  the  3rd  inftant,  at  the 
latter's  warehoufe,  the  lower  end  of  King  Street.  Mr. 
Elifha  Hutchinfon  was  not  prefent,  owing  to  a  mifunder- 
ftanding  of  our  intended  plan  of  conduct;,  but  his  brother 
engaged  to  act  in  his  behalf.  You  may  well  judge  that 
none  of  us  ever  entertained  the  leaft  thoughts  of  obeying 
the  fummons  fent  us  to  attend  at  Liberty  Tree.  After 
a  confultation  amongft  ourfelves  and  friends,  we  judged  it 
beft  to  continue  together,  and  to  endeavour,  with  the  af- 
fiftance  of  a  few  friends,  to  oppofe  the  defigns  of  the  mob, 
if  they  mould  come  to  offer  us  any  infult  or  injury.  And 
on  this  occafion,  we  were  fo  happy  as  to  be  fupported  by  a 
number  of  gentlemen  of  the  firft  rank.  About  one  o'clock, 
a  large  body  of  people  appeared  at  the  head  of  King  Street, 
and  came  down  to  the  end,  and  halted  oppofite  to  our  ware- 
houfe. Nine  perfons  came  from  them  up  into  our  counting- 
room,  viz :  Mr.  Molineux,  Mr.  Wm.  Dennie,  Doctor  Warren, 
Dr.  Church,  Major  Barber,  Mr.  Henderfon,  Mr.  Gabriel 
Johonnot,  Mr.  Proctor,  and  Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever.  Mr.  Molin- 
eux, as  fpeaker  of  the  above  Com1-6,  addreffed  himfelf  to  us, 
and  the  other  gentlemen  prefent,  the  fuppofed  factors  to  the 
Eaft  India  Comy>  and  told  us  that  we  had  committed  an  high 
infult  on  the  people,  in  refufmg  to  give  them  that  moft 
reafonable  fatisfaction  which  had  been  demanded  in  the 
summons  or  notice  which  had  been  fent  us,  then  read  a 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  285 

paper  propofed  by  him,  to  be  fubfcribed  by  the  factors,  im- 
porting that  they  folemnly  promife  that  they  would  not  land 
or  pay  any  duty  on  any  tea  that  mould  be  fent  by  the  Eafl 
I.  Comy>  but  that  they  would  fend  back  the  tea  to  England 
in  the  fame  bottom,  which  extravagant  demand  being  firmly 
refufed,  and  treated  with  a  proper  contempt  by  all  of  us, 
Mr.  Molineux  then  faid  that  fmce  we  had  refufed  their  mofl 
reafonable  demands,  we  mull  expect  to  feel,  on  our  firft 
appearance,  the  utmoft  weight  of  the  people's  refentment, 
upon  which  he  and  the  reft  of  the  Com1-6  left  our  counting- 
room  and  warehoufe,  and  went  to  and  mixed  with  the 
multitude  that  continued  before  our  warehoufe.  Soon  after 
this,  the  mob  having  made  one  or  two  reverfe  motions  to 
fome  diftance,  we  perceived  them  haftening  their  pace  to- 
wards the  ftore,  on  which  we  ordered  our  fervant  to  fhut 
the  outward  door ;  but  this  he  could  not  effect,  although 
affifted  by  fome  other  perfons,  amongft  whom  was  Nathaniel 
Hatch,1  Efq-'  one  of  the  Juftices  of  the  inferior  Court  for 
this  country,  and  a  Juftice  of  the  Peace  for  the  county. 
This  gen1?  made  all  poffible  exertions  to  ftem  the  current  of 
the  mob,  not  only  by  declaring  repeatedly,  and  with  a  loud 
voice,  that  he  was  a  magiftrate,  and  commanded  the  people, 
by  virtue  of  his  office,  and  in  his  Majefty's  name,  to  defift 
from  all  riotous  proceedings,  and  to  disperfe,  but  alfo  by 
affifling  in  perfon;  but  the  people  not  only  made  him  a  return 
of  infulting  &  reproachful  words,  but  prevented  his  endeav- 


1  Nathaniel    Hatch,    of    Dorchester,  1 776 ;    was  proscribed   and   banished  in 

graduated    at     Harvard    University,    in  1778,  and  in    1779  was    included   in  the 

1742,  and    subsequently  held    the   office  Conspiracy    Act,    by    which    his    estate 

of    Clerk    of    the    Courts.     He    accom.  was  confiscated.      He  died  in  1780. 
panied  the  British  troops  to  Halifax,  in 
32 


286  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ors,  by  force  and  blows,  to  get  our  doors  fhut,  upon  which 
Mr.  Hatch,  with  fome  other  of  our  friends,  retreated  to  our 
counting-room.  Soon  after  this,  the  outward  doors  of  the 
ftore  were  taken  off  their  hinges  by  the  mob,  and  carried  to 
fome  diftance ;  immediately  a  number  of  the  mob  rufhed 
into  the  warehoufe,  and  endeavored  to  force  into  the  count- 
ing-room, but  as  this  was  in  another  ftory,  and  the  flair-case 
leading  to  it  narrow,  we,  with  our  friends  —  about  twenty 
in  number  —  by  fome  vigorous  efforts,  prevented  their  ac- 
compliming  their  defign.  The  mob  appeared  in  a  fhort 
time  to  be  difperfed,  and  after  a  few  more  faint  attacks, 
they  contented  themfelves  with  blocking  us  up  in  the  ftore 
for  the  fpace  of  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  at  which  time, 
perceiving  that  much  the  greateft  part  of  them  were  drawn 
off,  and  thofe  that  remained  not  formidable,  we,  with  our 
friends,  left  the  warehoufe,  walked  up  the  length  of  King 
Street  together,  and  then  went  to  our  refpeclive  houfes, 
without  any  moleftation,  faving  fome  infulting  behavior  from 
a  few  defpicable  perfons.  The  night  following,  a  menacing 
letter  was  thruft  under  Mi*.  Faneuil's  door,  to  be  communi- 
cated to  the  other  confignees,  with  a  defign  to  intimidate 
them  from  executing  their  truft,  and  other  methods  have 
fince  been  made  ufe  of  in  the  public  papers  and  otherwife, 
for  the  fame  purpofe.  The  next  day,  being  the  4th  inft.,  a 
notification  was  fent  thro'  the  town,  by  order  of  the  felecl;- 
men,  for  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  to  meet  on  this  affair 
the  next  day,  a  tranfcript  of  which,  and  the  proceedings  of 
the  town  thereon,  at  their  meetings  on  the  5th  and  6th  inft., 
you  have  a  full  account  of  in  the  enclofed  newfpapers,  which, 
being  long,  we  fhall  only  copy  the  meffage  of  the  town  to 
us,  and  our  anfwer,  which  are  as  follows :  — 


JOHN  HANCOCK'S  REPLY  TO  WASHINGTON'S  LETTER  TO  CONGRESS,  RECOMMENDING  THE  BOMBARDMENT 

OF  THE  TOWN  OF  BOSTON. 

"It  is  true,  sir,  nearly  all  the  property  I  have  in  the  world  is  in  houses  and  other  real  estate  in  Boston; 
but  if  the  expulsion  of  the  British  army  from  it  and  the  liberties  of  our  country  require  their  being  burnt  to 
ashes,  issue  the  order  for  that  purpose  immediately." 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  289 

"  Voted,  That  a  Com1?.6  be  immediately  chofen  to  wait  on 
thofe  gentle0  who,  it  is  reported,  are  appointed  by  the  Eafl 
India  Comy  to  receive  and  fell  faid  tea,  and  requeft  them, 
from  a  regard  to  their  own  character,  and  the  good  order  and 
peace  of  the  town  and  province,  immediately  to  refign  their 
appointments.  And  the  following  gentm,  viz. :  the  Moderator 
of  the  Meeting,  Mr.  Henderfon  Inches,  Benjn  Auftin,  Efqr-' 
and  Mr.  John  Mafon,  &  the  felecl  men  of  the  town,  were 
appointed  a  com1-6-6  accordingly." 

Thefe  gentn>  all  except  Mr.  Mafon,  came  to  our  houfe 
about  one  o'clock,  P.  M.,  but  not  having  an  authenticated 
copy  of  the  Town's  vote,  we  defired  to  be  favored  with  one, 
which  was  accordingly  fent  us,  in  a  fhort  time,  from  the 
moderator,  John  Hancock,  Efqr-  to  which  we  returned  the 
following  anfwer,  viz. :  — 

"  Bofton,  Novr  5,   1773. 
Sir: 

It  is  impoffib|e  for  us  to  comply  with  the  requeft 
of  the  Town,  fignified  to  us  this  day  by  their  Com1?.6,  as  we 
know  not  on  what  terms  the  tea,  if  any  of  it  mould  be  fent 
to  our  care,  will  come  out,  nor  what  obligations,  either  of  a 
moral  or  pecuniary  nature,  we  may  be  under  to  fulfil  the 
truft  that  may  be  devolved  on  us.  When  we  are  acquainted 
with  thefe  circumftances,  we  mail  be  better  qualified  to  give 
a  definite  anfwer  to  the  requeft  of  the  Town. 

We  are,  fir,  your  moft  humble  fervants, 

RICHD  CLARKE  &  SONS, 

BENJN  FANEUIL,  for  felf  &  JOSHUA  WINSLOW,  Efqr- 
Hon'ble  John  Hancock,  Efqr-> 

Moderator  of  a  Town   Meeting 
at  Faneuil  Hall." 


290  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

This  anfwer,  you'll  fee  by  the  enclofed  news  paper,  was 
unanimoufly  voted  to  be  not  fatisfactory  to  the  Town,  and 
the  next  day,  on  Mr.  Hutchinfon's  fending  into  the  Town 
Meeting  an  anfwer  of  the  fame  purport,  both  his  and  ours 
were  voted  to  be  daringly  affrontive  to  the  Town,  but  upon 
what  reafons  this  vote  was  founded  they  have  not  been 
pleafed  to  declare.  You  may  obferve  that  the  Town  has 
refolved  that  they  will,  by  all  means  in  their  power,  prevent 
the  fale  of  the  teas  exported  by  the  Eaft  India  Company, 
and  in  the  preamble  to  this  vote  it  is  afferted  that  the 
quantities  of  teas  imported  into  this  place  fmce  a  certain 
agreement,  which  we  prefume  they  defigned  mould  be  under- 
ftood  to  commence  in  the  fall  of  1770,  at  which  time  the 
non-importation  agreement  ceafed,  had  been  very  frnall  in 
proportion  to  what  had  been  ufual  before  faid  agreement, 
and  that  by  a  few  perfons  only.  In  order  to  fet  thofe  facls 
in  a  clear  light,  we  obtained  from  the  cuftom  houfe  an 
account  of  teas  imported  into  this  place  from  the  beginning 
of  the  year  1768,  at  which  time  the  firft  teas  that  paid  the 
American  duty  arrived  to  this  time,  and  got  the  fame  printed 
in  the  enclofed  news  paper,  by  which  it  appears  that  the  fact 
has  been  groffly  mifreprefented,  efpecially  confidering  that 
this  year's  importation  would  probably  be  encreafed  at  the 
end  of  the  year  two  or  three  hundred  chefts,  if  the  expected 
exportation  on  account  of  the  Eaft  India  Company  had  not 
prevented  it.  Befides  the  public  tranfaclions  relative  to  this 
affair,  before  recited,  we  have  repeated  accounts  of  the  con- 
tinual nocturnal  meetings  of  the  leaders  of  the  mob,  and  we 
are  informed  that  they  are  determined  to  make  the  utmoft 
efforts  to  prevent  the  fale  of  the  teas ;  that  their  prefent 
fcheme>  or  part  of  it,  is  to  endeavor,  by  all  methods,  even 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  291 

the  moft  brutal,  to  force  the  confignees  to  give  up  their 
truft,  and  if  they  fhould  fail  in  this,  it  is  by  fome  perfons 
publickly  afferted  that  the  tea  fhall  not  be  landed,  or  if  it 
fhould  be,  that  it  fhall  be  burnt.1 

In  our  prefent  unexpected  and  difficult  fituation,  we  have 
only  to  defire  you  to  affure  the  gentlemen,  who  may  have 
configned  any  part  of  the  Company's  teas  to  our  houfe, 
whom  we  cannot  at  prefent  write  to,  as  we  have  not  been 
advifed  who  the  gentlemen  are,  that  we  fhall  make  ufe  of 
the  befl  advice,  and  exert  our  utmoft  endeavors  to  carry  into 
execution  the  Company's  defign,  which,  as  far  as  we  are 
acquainted  with  it,  we  judge  to  be  beneficial  to  the  Colonies, 
and  to  this  Town  and  Province  efpecially,  but  whether  it 
will  finally  be  in  our  power  to  accomplim  our  defign,  we 
are  not  at  prefent  certain.  We  beg  the  favor  of  you,  fir, 
to  communicate  the  foregoing  to  the  gentlemen  who  may 
have  had  the  direction  of  this  affair.  We  are,  with  the 
greateft  efteem  and  higheft  fenfe  of  our  obligations  to  them 
and  you,  fir, 

Your  moft  obedient  &  moft  humble  fervants, 
RICHARD  CLARKE  &  SONS. 

P.  S.  —  Mr.  Faneuil  writes  to  his  friend,  Mr.  Brook 
Watfon,  by  this  opportunity,  advifing  him  of  the  tranf- 
actions  relating  to  this  affair.  In  cafe  of  mifcarriage  of 
his  letter,  we  defire  you  to  communicate  this  letter  to  Mr. 
Watfon. 

1  The  proposition  to  burn  the  tea  is  referred  to  by  Wyeth.      See  ante  p.  LXXI. 


292  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


EXTRACT   OF    MR.   FANEUIL'S    LETTER   TO 

BROOK   WATSON,   ESQR 

• 

MENTIONED    IN    MR.    CLARKE'S    POSTSCRIPT. 

Mr.  Faneuil,  after  giving  an  account  of  the  proceedings 
of  the  inhabitants  of  the  3rd  inftant,  entirely  agreeing  in 
fubflance  with  Mr.  Clarke's  relation,  goes  on  — 

"  By  comparing  this  account  with  what  Mr.  Clarke  writes 
his  friend,  Mr.  Dupuis,  of  London,  you  will  come  at  the 
exact  flate  of  the  affair.  The  Governor  has  given  my  Lord 
Dartmouth  an  account  of  the  conduct  of  his  Council.  I 
will  only  fay  that  next  day  they  voted  that  the  Attorney- 
General  be  ordered  to  profecute  the  perfons  concerned  in 
this  riot.  The  confequence,  I  fuppofe,  will  be,  the  grand 
jury  will  not  find  a  bill  againffc  them,  and  there  the  affair 
will  end." 

On  Thurfday,  a  letter,  of  which  the  following  is  a  copy, 
was  found  in  my  entry: 

"  Gentlemen :  It  is  currently  reported  that  you  are  in  the 
extremefl  anxiety  reflecting  your  ftanding  with  the  good 
people  of  this  Town  and  Province,  as  commiffioners  of  the 
fale  of  the  monopolized  and  dutied  tea.  We  do  not  wonder 
in  the  leaft  that  your  apprehenfions  are  terrible,  when  the 
mofl  enlightened  humane  &  confcientious  community  on  the 
earth  view  you  in  the  light  of  tigers  or  mad  dogs,  whom 
the  public  fafety  obliges  them  to  deftroy.  Long  have  this 
people  been  irreconcilable  to  the  idea  of  fpilling  human 
blood,  on  almoft  any  occafion  whatever ;  but  they  have  lately 
feen  a  penitential  thief  fuffer  death  for  pilfering  a  few 


•LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  293 

pounds  from  {battering  individuals.  You  boldly  avow  a 
refolution  to  bear  a  principal  part  in  the  robbery  of  every 
inhabitant  of  this  country,  in  the  prefent  and  future  ages, 
of  every  thing  dear  and  interefting  to  them.  Are  there  no 
laws  in  the  Book  of  God  and  nature  that  enjoin  fuch  mif- 
creants  to  be  cut  off  from  among  the  people,  as  troublers  of 
the  whole  congregation.  Yea,  verily,  there  are  laws  and 
officers  to  put  them  into  execution,  which  you  can  neither 
corrupt,  intimidate,  nor  efcape,  and  whofe  refolution  to  bring 
you  to  condign  punimment  you  can  only  avoid  by  a  fpeedy 
imitation  of  your  brethren  in  Philadelphia.  This  people  are 
ftill  averfe  to  precipitate  your  fate,  but  in  cafe  of  much 
longer  delay  in  complying  with  their  indifpenfable  demands^ 
you  will  not  fail  to  meet  the  juft  rewards  of  your  avarice  & 
infolence.  Remember,  gentn>  this  is  the  laft  warning  you 
are  ever  to  expe6l  from  the  infulted,  abufed,  and  moft  in- 
dignant vindicators  of  violated  liberty  in  the  Town  of  Bofton. 

Thurfday  evening,  9  o'clock. 

Nov.  4,   1773.  O.  C,  Secy>  pr  order.1 

To  Meffrs.  the  Tea  Commiffioners. 
Direded  to  B F Efqr- " 

On    Friday    we    had    a    Town   Meeting.      What  was  done 
there,    together   with    our    anfwers    and    their    refolves,    you'll 

1  This  letter,  with  all  its  extravagance  lar   leaders.      These,   however    strongly 

and  exaggeration,  undoubtedly  expresses  they  felt  in    relation  to    ministerial   ag- 

the    popular    feeling,    the    public    senti-  gression,  were,  though  direct  and  forci- 

ment  of   the    time.      It   is    easy  to   see  ble    in   their   utterances,  invariably   dis- 

from    its    style,    as    well    as    from    the  creet  and   temperate   in   their   tone  and 

sentiments    it    contains,    that    it    could  language, 
have  emanated  from  none  of   the  popu- 


294 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


fee  in  the  enclqfed  news  paper.  Juft  before  the  meeting 
broke  up,  feveral  gentn>  on  my  telling  the  purport  of  our 
anfwer,  advifed  me  to  leave  the  town  for  that  night ;  but  I 
have  not  yet  flept  out  of  my  own  houfe,  nor  do  I  propofe 
to  do  it,  till  I  find  it  abfolutely  neceffary.  I  thought  it 
beft,  however,  to  conceal  myfelf  for  two  or  three  hours. 
But  nothing  took  place  more  that  evening  than  is  ufual  on 
the  5l»  Novr-  On  Friday,  we  received  an  information,  which 
was  repeated  yefterday,  that  a  number  of  picked  men  are 
determined  to  break  into  our  houfe  one  night  this  week.  I 
can  hardly  believe  it,  but  thefe  continued  alarms  are  very 
difagreeable.  I  am,  gentlemen, 

Your  moft  obed*  ferv1, 


BENJN  FANEUIL,  Jun 


r.  1 


1  Benjamin  Faneuil,  Jr.,  was  the  son 
of  Benjamin,  a  merchant  of  Boston, 
(born,  1701  ;  died,  1785,)  and  a  nephew 
of  Peter  Faneuil,  to  whom  Boston  is 
indebted  for  her  "  Cradle  of  Liberty." 
His  place  of  business  was  in  Butler's 
Row,  and  he  resided  in  the  Faneuil 
mansion,  on  Tremont  Street.  Before 
the  building  of  Quincy  Market  and 
South  Market  Street,  Butler's  Row 
entered  Merchants  Row,  between  Chat- 
ham and  State  Streets.  With  the  other 
tea  consignees,  Faneuil  fled  to  the  Cas- 
tle, in  Boston  harbor,  November  30,  1773, 


and  being  a  loyalist,  went  to  Halifax, 
when  Boston  was  evacuated,  in  March, 
1776.  In  the  following  spring  he  was  in 
London,  and  subsequently  resided  in 
Bristol,  Eng.,  where  he  died.  His  wife 
was  Jane,  daughter  of  Addington  Daven- 
port. While  in  London,  in  lodgings  in 
the  Strand,  almost  opposite  Somerset 
House,  he  wrote  as  follows  to  a  friend: 
"  As  soon  as  the  Xmas  holidays  were 
over,  the  tea  consignees  presented  a 
petition  to  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury, 
praying  a  support  until  the  affairs  in 
America  were  settled.  We  are  told  we 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS  295 

PROCEEDINGS   OF  THE    INHABITANTS    OF   THE 

TOWN    OF    BOSTON,   ON    THE   5™  &  6T» 

NOVEMBER,    1773, 

Referred  to  by  MeJJrs.  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  &  Benjn 
Faneuil,  Junr~'  in  their  above  mentioned  Letters,  from 
the  news  papers  enclofed. 

[From  the  Massachusetts  Gazette  of  Thursday,  Nov.  ri,   1773.] 

The  following  notification  was  iffued  on  Thurfday  laft: 
The  freeholders  and  other  inhabitants  of  the  Town  of 
Bofton,  qualified  as  the  law  directs,  are  hereby  notified  to 
meet  at  Faneuil  Hall,  on  Friday,  the  5th  day  of  November 
inftant,  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  forenoon,  then  and  there  to 
confider  the  petition  of  a  number  of  the  inhabitants,  fetting 
forth,  "that  they  are  juflly  alarmed  at  the  report  that  the 
Eaft  India  Company,  in  London,  are  about  fhipping  a  cargo 
or  cargoes  of  tea  into  this  and  the  other  Colonies,  and  that 
they  efteem  it  a  political  plan  of  the  Britifh  adminiftration, 
whereby  they  have  reafon  to  fear,  not  only  the  trade  upon 
which  they  depend  for  fubfiftence,  is  threatened  to  be  totally 
deftroyed,  but  what  is  much  more  than  any  thing  in  life  to 
be  dreaded,  the  tribute  laid  on  the  foundation  of  that  article 
will  be  fixed  and  eftablimed,  and  our  liberties,  for  which  we 
have  long  ftruggled,  will  be  loft  to  them  and  their  poflerity, 

shall  be  allowed  ;£  1 50  a  year.  This  is  a  When  we  shall  be  able  to  return  to 
fine  affair,  and  we  can  by  no  means  live  Boston  I  cannot  say,  but  hope  and  be- 
upon  it,  but  there  are  such  a  confounded  lieve  it  will  not  exceed  one  year,  for 
parcel  of  us  to  be  provided  for,  that  I  sooner  or  later  America  will  be  con- 
am  told  no  more  will  be  allowed.  .  .  .  quered,  that  you  may  depend  on." 

33 


296  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

and  therefore  praying  that  a  meeting  of  the  freeholders  and 
other  inhabitants,  may  be  immediately  called,  that  fo  the 
fenfe  of  the  matter  may  be  taken,  and  fuch  fteps  be  purfued 
as  to  their  fafety  and  well  being  (hall  appertain." 

By  order  of  the  Sele6l  men, 

WILLIAM  COOPER,  Town  Clerk. 
Bofton,  Novr  41!1.-   1773. 

On  Friday  laft  there  was  a  very  full  meeting  of  the  free- 
holders, and  other  inhabitants  of  this  town,  in  Faneuil  Hall, 
agreeable  to  a  notification  iffued  by  the  Select  men,  when 
the  Hon'ble  John  Hancock,  Efqr>  was  chofen  moderator,  and 
the  Town,  after  due  deliberation,  came  into  the  following 
refolutions,  viz. : 

Whereas,  it  appears  by  an  Act  of  the  Britifh  Parliament, 
paffed  in  the  laft  feffion,  that  the  Eaft  India  Company,  in 
London,  are  by  the  faid  Act  allowed  to  export  their  teas 
into  America  in  fuch  quantities  as  the  Lords  of  the  Treafury 
mail  think  proper.  And  fome  perfons,  with  an  evil  intent 
to  amufe  the  people,  and  others  thro'  inattention  to  the  true 
defign  of  the  Act,  have  fo  conftrued  the  fame  as  that  the 
tribute  of  three  pence  on  every  pound  of  tea  is  to  be  ex- 
acled  by  the  deteftable  tafk  matters  here.  Upon  the  due 
confideration  thereof,  — 

Refolved,  That  the  fense  of  this  Town  cannot  be  better 
expreffed  than  in  the  words  of  certain  judicious  refolves, 
lately  entered  into  by  our  worthy  brethren  of  Philadelphia. 
Wherefore, 

Refolved,  That  the  difpofal  of  their  own  property  is  the 
inherent  right  of  freemen  ;  that  there  can  be  no  property  in 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  297 

that  which  'another  can,  of  right,  take  from  us  without  our 
confent ;  that  the  claim  of  Parliament  to  tax  America  is,  in 
other  words,  to  claim  a  right  to  levy  contributions  on  us  at 
pleafure. 

2d-  That  the  duty  impofed  by  Parliament  upon  tea  landed 
in  America,  is  a  tax  upon  the  Americans,  or  levying  con- 
tributions on  them  without  their  confent. 

3d  That  the  exprefs  purpofe  for  which  the  tax  is  levied 
on  the  Americans,  namely,  for  the  fupport  of  government, 
adminiftration  of  juflice,  and  the  defence  of  His  Majefty's 
dominions  in  America,  has  a  direct  tendency  to  render  af- 
femblies  ufelefs,  and  to  introduce  arbitrary  government  and 
flavery. 

4th'  That  a  virtuous  and  fteady  oppofition  to  this  minif- 
terial  plan  of  governing  America  is  absolutely  neceffary  to 
preferve  even  the  fhadow  of  liberty,  and  it  is  a  duty  which 
every  free  man  in  America  owes  to  his  country,  to  himfelf 
and  to  his  poflerity. 

5th  That  the  refolution  lately  agreed  to  by  the  Eaft:  India 
Company,  to  fend  out  their  tea  to  America,  fubjecled  to 
payment  of  duties  on  its  being  landed  here,  is  an  open 
attempt  to  enforce  the  minifterial  plan,  and  a  violent  attack 
upon  the  liberties  of  America. 

6th  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  American  to  oppofe  this 
attempt. 

7th  That  whoever  (hall,  directly  or  indirectly,  countenance 
this  attempt,  or  in  any  wife  aid  or  kbet  in  unloading,  re- 
ceiving or  vending  the  tea  fent  or  to  be  fent  out  by  the 
Eaft  India  Company,  while  it  remains  fubject  to  the  pay- 
ment of  a  duty  here,  is  an  enemy  to  America. 

8th     That  a  committee  be    immediately  chofen    to  wait  on 


298  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

thofe  gentlemen,  who,  it  is  reported,  are  appointed  by  the 
Eaft  India  Company  to  receive  and  fell  faid  tea,  and  requeft 
them,  from  a  regard  to  their  own  characters,  and  the  peace 
and  good  order  of  this.  Town  and  Province,  immediately  to 
refign  their  appointments. 

And  the  following  gentlemen,  viz.,  the  Moderator,  Mr. 
Henderfon  Inches,  Benjamin  Auftin,  Efqn>  and  the  Select 
men  of  the  Town,  were  appointed  a  committee  accordingly. 

At  the  fame  time,  the  Town  paffed  the  following  refolves, 
viz. : 

Whereas,  the  merchants  of  this  Continent,  did  enter  into 
an  agreement  to  withhold  the  importation  of  teas  until  the 
duty  laid  thereon  "mould  be  repealed,  which  agreement,  as  we 
are  informed,  has  been  punctually  obferved  by  the  refpectable 
merchants  in  the  Southern  Colonies,  while,  by  reafon  of  the 
peculiar  circumftances  attending  the  trade  of  this  place, 
some  quantities,  tho'  very  fmall  in  proportion  to  what  had 
been  ufual  before  faid  agreement,  have  been  imported  by 
fome  of  the  merchants  here.  And  whereas,  it  now  appears 
probable  to  this  Town,  that  the  Britifh  adminiftration  have 
taken  encouragement,  even  from  fuch  fmall  importations,  to 
grant  licenfes  to  the  Eaft  India  Company,  as  aforefaid, 
therefore,  — 

Refolved,  That  it  is  the  determination  of  this  Town,  by 
all  means  in  their  power,  to  prevent  the  fale  of  teas  ex- 
ported by  the  Eaft  India  Company,  and  as  the  merchants 
here  have  generally  oppofed  this  meafure,  it  is  the  juft  ex- 
pectation of  the  inhabitants  of  this  town  that  no  one  of 
them  will,  upon  any  pretence  whatever,  import  any  tea  that 
mall  be  liable  to  pay  the  duty  from  this  time,  and  until  the 
Act  impofmg  the  fame  mail  be  repealed. 


t/tz^ns' iTyCLcw 


GOVERNOR  GAGE,  THROUGH  COL.   FENTON,  TO  SAMUEL  ADAMS,  1773. 

"  Mr.  Adams,  you  have  displeased  His  Majesty,  made  yourself  liable  to  be  sent  to  England,  and  tried 
for  treason.  Change  your  political  course,  you  will  receive  personal  advantages,  and  also  make  your  peace 
with  the  King." 

Mr.  ,*/<&»«'  Reply:  "I  have  long  since  made  my  peace  with  the  King  of  Kings.  No  personal  consider- 
ation shall  induce  me  to  abandon  the  righteous  cause  of  my  country.  Tell  Gov.  Gage  it  is  the  advice  of 
Samuel  Adams,  to  him,  no  longer  to  insult  the  feelings  of  an  already  exasperated  people." 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  301 

And  then  the  Town  adjourned  till  three  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon. 

At  3  o'clock,  there  was  again  a  very  full  affembly,  and 
the  committee  reported  to  the  Town  that  they  had  waited 
on  Richard  Clarke,  Efqr-  and  Son,  and  Benjamin  Faneuil, 
Efqr->  faid  to  be  factors  of  the  Eafl  India  Company,  and 
communicated  to  them  the  refolve  of  the  Town,  whereby 
they  were  requefled,  immediately,  to  refign  their  appoint- 
ment, and  that  faid  gentlemen  informed  the  committee,  that 
as  Meffrs.  Thomas  &  Elifha  Hutchinfon,  (who  are  alfo  re- 
ported to  be  factors  of  the  faid  Company,)  were  at  Milton, 
and  not  expected  in  town  'till  Saturday  evening,  and  as 
they  chofe  to  confult  them,  they  could  not  return  an  anfwer 
to  the  Town  'till  Monday  morning. 

Then  another  committee  was  chofen  viz.,  Mr.  Samuel 
Adams,  Mr.  Wm.  Molineux  and  Dr.  Jofeph  Warren,  to 
acquaint  Meffrs.  Clarke  &  Faneuil,  that  as  they  were  not 
joint  factors  for  the  Eaft  India  Company  with  the  Hutchin- 
fon's,  it  was  fuppofed  they  could  determine  for  themfelves, 
and  therefore  it  was  the  expectation  of  the  Town  that  they 
return  an  immediate  anfwer  to  the  meffage,  and  this  com- 
mittee reported  to  the  Town  that  an  anfwer  might  be 
expected  in  half  an  hour. 

A  motion  was  then  made  that  a  committee  "be  appointed 
to  repair  to  Milton,  and  acquaint  Meffrs.  Thomas  and 
Elifha  Hutchinfon,  with  the  requefl  of  the  Town,  that  they 
immediately  refign  their  appointment,  and  John  Hancock, 
Efqr"  Mr.  John  Pitts,  Mr.  Samuel  Adams,  Mr.  Samuel 
Abbott,  Dr.  Jofeph  Warren,  Mr.  Wm.  Powell,  and  Mr.  Nath1 
Appleton,  were  appointed  for  that  purpofe. 


302  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

A  letter  was  brought  into  the  hall,  figned  by  Richard 
Clarke  &  Son,  &  Benjamin  Faneuil,  for  himfelf  &  Jofhua 
Window,  Efqr-'  and  directed  to  the  Moderator,  to  be  com- 
municated to  the  Town,  viz : 

"Boflon,  5th  Novmr"  1773. 

Sir: 

It  is  impoffible  for  us  to  comply  with  the  requeft 
of  the  Town,  fignified  to  us  this  day  by  the  committee,  as 
we  know  not  what  terms  the  tea,  if  any  part  of  it  mould 
be  fent  to  our  care,  will  come  out  on,  and  what  obliga- 
tions, either  of  a  moral  or  pecuniary  nature,  we  may  be 
under,  to  fulfil  the  truft  that  may  be  devolved  on  us.  When 
we  are  acquainted  with  thefe  circumflances,  we  fhall  be 
better  qualified  to  give  a  definitive  anfvver  to  the  requeft  of 
the  Town.  We  are,  fir, 

Your  moft  h'ble  ferV* 

RICHARD  CLARKE  £  SON, 
BENJAMIN  FANEUIL,  for  felf  &  JOSHUA  WINSLOW,  Efqr- 

Hon'ble  John   Hancock,  Efqr> 

Moderator  of  a  Town  Meeting,  affembled  at  Faneuil  Hall." 

This  letter  was  read,  and  unanimouily  voted  to  be  not 
fatisfactory  to  the  Town,  and  then  the  meeting  adjourned 
'till  the  next  day,  at  eleven  o'clock,  to  receive  the  report  of 
the  committee  appointed  to  wait  on  the  Hutchinfons. 

The  Town  met  by  adjournment,  on  Saturday,  (the  meeting 
ftill  continuing  very  full,)  and  the  committee  reported,  that 
they  had  feen  Mr.  Thomas  Hutchinfon  only,  (his  brother 
being  neither  at  Milton  or  Bofton,)  and  that  the  Town  might 
expecl;  an  anfwer  from  him  immediately. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  303 

The  following  letter  was  foon  after  fent  in  to  the  Moder- 
ator, figned  Thomas  Hutchinfon,  which  was  read,  and  unani- 
moufly  voted  to  be  an  unfatisfactory  anfwer,  viz. : 

"  Sir : 

I  know  nothing  relative  to  the  teas  referred  to  in 
the  requeft  or  vote  of  the  Town,  except  that  one  of  my 
friends  has  fignified  to  me  by  letter,  that  part  of  it,  he  had 
reafon  to  believe,  would  be  configned  to  me  and  my  brother 
jointly.  Under  thefe  circumftances,  I  can  give  no  other 
anfwer  to  the  Town  at  prefent,  than  that  if  the  teas  fhould 
arrive,  and  we  fhould  be  appointed  factors,  we  fhall  then 
be  fufficiently  informed  to  anfwer  the  requeft  of  the  Town. 
I  am,  for  my  brother  and  felf,  fir, 

Your  h'ble  fervl> 

THOS.  HUTCHINSON,  Junr 
Hon'ble  John   Hancock,  Efqr> 

Moderator  of  a  Town   Meeting,  now  affembled. 

It  was  then  voted,  that  the  letter,  figned  Richard  Clarke 
&  Son,  Benjamin  Faneuil,  for  felf  and  Jofhua  Window,  Efqr> 
and  alfo  the  letter  figned  Thomas  Hutchinfon,  which  had 
been  read,  were  daringly  affrontive  to  the  Town,  and  the 
meeting  was  immediately  diffolved. 


AN  ACCOUNT  OF  TEA  IMPORTED  AT  BOSTON, 

Referred  to  above,  in  Mr.  Clarke  s  Letter,  from  the  fame. 

Mr.   DRAPER  : 

Pleafe  to  publifh    the   following    account  of    the  im- 
portation  of   teas   from    Great    Britain,  from    the    commence- 


304  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ment  of  the  year  1768,  to  the  prefent  time,  for  the  informa- 
tion of  fuch  of  your  readers  as  defire  to  be  acquainted 
therewith : 

In 


1768,  . 

I  760, 

Chests. 

.     ,     .     .     942  by  82  diff1  perfons. 
34.0          1  1         d°' 

1770, 

167          22          d0> 

1771, 

890        103         d°' 

I  772, 

•2  7  c            70           d°- 

i773>    - 

....     378         61         d°- 

N.  B.  —  The  merchants  in  London,  not  having  executed 
the  orders  for  tea  this  fall,  on  account  of  the  expected  ex- 
portation from  the  Eaft  India  Company,  greatly  leffens  the 
quantity  of  the  prefent  year. 

Q- 


HALIFAX. 

Mr.  Michell  prefents  his  compliments  to  Mr. 
Watfon,  and  by  order  acquaints  him,  that  the  Court  of 
Directors  of  the  Eaft  India  Company  have  agreed  that  the 
Company's  teas,  which  may  be  rejected  at  Bofton,  and  other 
places  in  America,  mould  be  fent  to  Halifax,  in  the  manner 
with  which  Mr.  Watfon  was  acquainted  by  the  Committee, 
with  whom  he  this  day  conferred,  and  Mr.  Michell  is  to 
defire  Mr.  Watfon  will,  as  foon  as  may  be,  name  to  him  the 
other  houfe  here,  which  is  to  join  in  that  bufmefs,  and  the 
other  gentleman  at  Halifax,  to  be  concerned  in  the  agency 
there  with  Mr.  John  Butler,  that  the  neceffary  difpatch  may 
be  given  to  the  advices,  to  go  from  hence  tomorrow,  at  10 
in  the  forenoon,  to  the  plantation  office,  and  be  there  for- 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  305 

warded    to    America.       He    is    alfo    to    requeft    Mr.    Watfon, 
will  by  that    time,  convey  hither   fuch   letters    as    he  intends 
mould  go  under  the  Company's  cover,  by    the  fame  difpatch 
to  Halifax,  relating  to  this  bufmefs 
Eaft  India  Houfe, 

Friday  evening,  7$  Jany>   1774. 


Jofhua  Mauger,  Efqr"  Member  of  Poole,  in  ,£10,000. 

Brook  Watfon,   )    r  T  ,   .       r 

>oi  London,  merchants,  and  in   f.  10,000. 
Rob*  Rafhleigh, ) 

Joint  fecurity  for  the  due  execution  of  the  commiffion  for 
the  difpofal  of  the  Company's  teas  by  John  Butler,  Efqr-'  and 
Thos  Cochran,  of  Halifax. 


NEW   YORK. 

THE  AGENTS  OF  NEW  YORK,  THEIR  PETITION 
TO  THE  GOVERNOR, 

Referred  to  in  their  Letter  of  the  Ist  Decr" 

To  His  EXCELLENCY  WILLIAM  TRYON,  ESQ»'  CAPTAIN-GENERAL 
AND  GOVERNOR  IN  CHIEF  IN  AND  OVER  THE  PROVINCE  OF  NEW 
YORK,  AND  TERRITORIES  DEPENDING  THEREON,  IN  AMERICA, 
CHANCELLOR  AND  VICE-ADMIRAL  OF  THE  SAME. 

The  Memorial  of  Henry  White,  Abram  Lott,  &  Benjm  Booth, 
of  the  City  of  New  York,  merchants. 

Humbly  fheweth  : 

That    your    memorialifls    have,    by    the    laft   packet, 
received  advices  of  their  being  appointed  agents  by  the  Eaft 

34 


306 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


India  Comy>  for  the  fale  of  certain  teas  by  them  fhipped  and 
daily  expected  to  arrive  in  this  port. 

That  your  memorialifls  are  informed  by  letter  from  the 
Directors  of  the  faid  Company,  that  they  have  given  fecurity 
in  double  the  value  of  the  tea,  that  a  certificate  of  its  being 
duly  landed  mail  be  returned  to  the  cuftom  houfe,  in  London. 

That  as  the  faid  tea,  on  its  importation,  will  be  fubjecl:  to 
the  American  duty,  and  as  there  is  on  that  account  a  gen- 
eral and  fpirited  oppofition  to  its  being  fold,  and  being  well 
convinced  from  the  nature  of  the  oppofition,  that  fo  con- 
fiderable  a  property  of  the  Company  will  not  be  fafe  unlefs 
Government  takes  it  under  protection,  your  memorialifls 
therefore  humbly  pray  that  your  Excellency  will  be  pleafed 
to  direct  fuch  steps  to  be  taken  for  the  prefervation  of  the 
faid  tea,  as  your  Excellency  in  your  wifdom  mail  think  moft 
conducive  to  that  end. 

HENRY  WHITE.1 
ABRM  LOTT. 
BENJ"  BOOTH. 

New  York,   ift  Decr>   1773. 


1  Henry  White  was  an  eminent  and 
wealthy  merchant  of  New  York,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Council,  and  an  original 
member  and  finally  president,  of  the 
New  York  Chamber  of  Commerce.  He 
acted  for  a  time  as  commissary,  while 
the  royal  army  occupied  that  city,  and 
being  a  pronounced  loyalist,  his  estate 


was  confiscated.  After  the  peace  he 
went  to  England,  and  died  in  London, 
December  23,  1786.  Eve,  his  widow, 
died  in  New  York,  in  1836,  at  the  great 
age  of  ninety-eight.  Of  his  sons,  John 
Chambers  White,  became  a  vice-admiral 
in  the  British  navy,  and  Frederick  Van 
Cortland,  became  a  general  in  the  army 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  309 


BOSTON. 

Proceedings  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Bofton,  on 
the  i8th  Novr-  1773,  referred  to  by  the  agents  in  their  letter 
of  the  2d  Decr>  are  miffing,  fuppofed  to  be  tranfmitted  to 
Lord  Dartmouth.1 


PETITION    OF    THE    AGENTS,    &    PROCEEDINGS 
OF   THE   COUNCIL   OF    BOSTON    THEREON, 

Referred  to  by  the  Agents  in    their  Letter  of  the  2d  Decent*  • 

To  His  EXCELLENCY  THE    GOVERNOR  AND   THE    HON'BLE  His 
MAJESTY'S  COUNCIL. 

The  Petition  of  Rich*  Clarke  &  Sons,  of  Benj*  Faneuil,  & 
TJios'   &  Elifha  Hutchinfon. 

That  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company,  in  London,  have 
fhipped  a  considerable  quantity  of  tea  for  the  port  of  Bofton, 
and  as  your  petitioners  are  made  to  underftand,  will  be  con- 
figned  to  their  addrefs  for  fale. 

That  fome  of  your  petitioners  have  in  confequenee  of  this 
been  cruelly  infulted  in  their  perfons  and  property ;  that  they 
have  had  infulting  and  incendiary  letters  left  and  thrown 
into  their  houfes  in  the  night ;  that  they  have  been  re- 
peatedly attacked  by  a  large  body  of  men  ;  that  one  of  the 
houfes  of  your  petitioners  was  affaulted  in  the  night  by  a 

1  See  D.  xxxv..  ante. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

tumultuous  and  riotous  affembly  of  people,  and  violent 
attempts  made  to  force  the  houfe  for  the  fpace  of  two 
hours,  that  have  greatly  damaged  the  fame ;  that  they  are 
threatened  in  their  perfons  and  property,  and  further  with 
the  deftruction  of  the  faid  tea  on  its  arrival  into  the  port ; 
and  that  the  refolves  and  proceedings  of  the  Town,  in  their 
meetings  on  the  5th  and  i8th  inft.,  are  intended  to  be  expref- 
five  of  the  general  fenfe  of  the  Town,  to  which  we  beg  leave 
to  refer  your  Excellency  and  the  Honorable  Board. 

Your  petitioners  therefore  beg  leave  to  refign  themfelves, 
and  the  property  committed  to  their  care,  to  your  Excellency 
and  Honors,  as  the  guardians  and  protectors  of  the  people, 
humbly  praying  that  meafures  may  be  directed  to,  for  the 
landing  and  fecuring  the  teas,  until  your  petitioners  can  be 
at  liberty,  openly  and  fafely,  to  difpofe  of  the  fame,  or  until 
they  can  receive  directions  from  their  conftituents. 

Signed,  RICHD  CLARKE, 

BENJN  FANEUIL,  Junr- 
THOS>  &  ELISHA  HUTCHINSON. 
A  true  copy  from  the  original. 
Petition  on  file.         Atteft: 

Signed,         THOS-   FLUCKER,  Secy- 


PROCEEDINGS    OF   THE   COUNCIL    THEREON, 

At  a  Council  held  at  the    Council  Chamber,  in   Bofton,  upon 
Friday,  Novr  19,  1773. 

Prefent : 
His  Excellency  Thomas  Hutchinfon,  Efqr>>  Governor. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  311 

Ifaac  Royal,1  James  Bowdoin,  ^     James  Pitts, 

John  Erving,     j^Efq"-    James   Ruffell,      ^  Efqrs 

Wm.  Brattle,2  J  James  Otis,          j     Sam1  Dexter,  Efqrs- 

His  Excellency  reprefented  to  the  Council  the  tumults 
and  diforders  prevailing  in  the  town  of  Boflon,  and  required 
their  advice  upon  meafures  proper  for  preferving  the  peace, 
and  for  fupporting  the  authority  of  Government.  Whilft 
the  Council  were  debating  on  the  fubjecl,  a  petition  from 
Richd  Clarke,  Benj"  Faneuil,  and  Meffrs.  Thos-  and  Elima 
Hutchinfon,  to  the  Governor  and  Council  was  prefented, 
fetting  forth  that  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Comy>  in  London, 
have  fhip'd  a  confiderable  quantity  of  tea  for  the  port  of 
Bofton,  which  they  are  made  to  underftand,  will  be  configned 
to  their  addrefs,  for  fale,  and  that  fome  of  them  have,  in 
confequence  of  this,  been  cruelly  infulted  in  their  perfons  and 


1  Isaac    Royal,    of    Medford,    died    in  preacher,   physician,    soldier    and    legts- 
England,  in   October,   1781.     He  was   a  lator,  son  of  Rev.  William,  minister,  of 
representative    from     Medford     to    the  Cambridge,    died    in    Halifax,    N.  S.,    in 
General  Court,  and  for  twenty-two  years  October,  1776;   aged  seventy-four.      He 
a  member  of  the  Council.      In  1774,  he  was  graduated  at  Harvard  University,  in 
was   appointed   a   Councillor  under   the  1722;    was    distinguished    both   for    his 
writ  of  mandamus,  but  was  never  sworn  talents  and   eccentricities  ;   was  a  repre- 
into     office.        Appointed     a     brigadier-  sentative    from    Cambridge,    and    many 
general  in  1761,  and  the  first  who  bore  years  a  member  of  the  Council;   a  mem- 
that    title    here.      He    left   the   country  ber  of  the  Stamp  Act  Congress  in  1765; 
April  1 6,  1775;   was  proscribed  in  1778,  a   major-general   of  militia,   and   was   a 
and    his    estate    was    confiscated.      He  member  of   every   profession,  and   emi- 
bequeathed    upwards    of    two    thousand  nent  in  all.     For  many  years  he  pleased 
acres  of  land  in  Worcester  County,  Mass.,  both    the  Government  and    the   people, 
to  found   the  first  law  professorship   of  but  finally  forfeited  the  good  will  of  the 
Harvard  University,  and  his  bequests  for  Whigs,    and    accompanied    the     British 
other     purposes     were     numerous     and  soldiers  to  Halifax  on  the  evacuation  of 
liberal.  Boston,  and   died   there   a  few   months 

2  William     Brattle,    F.  R.  S.,     lawyer,  after  his  arrival. 


312  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

property.  They  therefore  beg  leave  to  refign  themfelves, 
and  the  property  committed  to  their  care,  to  the  Governor 
and  Council,  as  the  guardians  and  proteclors  of  the  people, 
and  pray  that  meafures  may  be  directed  to,  for  the  landing 
and  fecuring  the  teas,  until  they  can  be  at  liberty,  openly  and 
fafely,  to  difpofe  of  the  fame,  or  until  they  can  receive 
directions  from  their  conftituents.  After  long  debate,  it  was 
propofed  and  agreed  that  his  Excellency  be  defired  to  ap- 
point a  future  day  for  the  Council  to  fit,  and  he  appointed 
the  23d  inft.,  and  the  Council  adjourned  the  further  con- 
fideration  to  that  time  accordingly. 

November  23d'  1773.  Prefent  in  Council:  His  Excellency 
Thos-  Hutchinfon,  Efqr>  Governor. 

Ifaac  Royal,    1  p/-  rs.  James  Bowdoin,  1  James  Pitts, 

John  Erving,  J  James  Ruffell,      I  Efqrs-  John  Winthrop, 

James  Otis,  Efqrs 

His  Excellency  directed  the  Council  to  proceed  in  the 
confideration  of  the  petition  of  Richd  Clarke,  Efqr-'  and 
others,  as  entered  the  19th  inft.,  for  which  purpofe  he  had 
ordered  them  to  fit  at  this  time,  and  a  debate  being  had 
thereupon,  it  was  moved  to  his  Excellency  that  the  Council 
might  fit  on  a  further  day,  there  being  only  a  bare  quorum 
prefent,  to  which  his  Excellency  agreed  ;  advifed  that  all 
thofe  members  of  the  Council  who  live  within  40  miles  of 
the  town  of  Bofton  be  fummoned  then  to  attend,  which  was 
done  accordingly,  to  meet  on  Saturday,  the  27th  inft. 

Novemr  27th-  Prefent  in  Council:  His  Excellency  Tho8- 
Hutchinfon,  Efqr>  Governor. 


THOMAS     GAGE,    THE     LAST     ROYAL    GOVERNOR. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  315 

Samuel  Danforth,1    James  Ruffel,         James  Humphrey, 
Ifaac  Royal,  James  Pitts,  Artemas  Warcjl, 

John  Erving,  Samuel  Dexter,     John  Winthrop,  Efq1"8- 

James  Bowdoin.  George  Leonard. 

His  Excellency,  after  reprefenting  to  the  Council  the  dif- 
orders  prevailing  in  the  town  of  Bofton,  recommended  to 
them  to  proceed  on  the  petition  of  Richd  Clarke,  and  others, 
relative  to  thofe  diforders,  and  required  their  advice.  After 
a  long  debate,  it  was  moved  to  his  Excellency  that  a  Com'?.6 
of  the  Council  be  appointed  to  prepare  the  refult  of  the  faid 
debate,  to  be  laid  before  his  Excellency,  to  which  he  con- 
fented,  and  James  Bowdoin,  Sam-  Dexter,  and  John  Win- 
throp, Efqrs-'  were  appointed  accordingly.  Mr.  Bowdoin 
made  a  report,  which  was  confidered  and  debated  by  the 
Council,  and  it  was  moved  to  his  Excellency  that  he  would 
adjourn  the  Council  to  a  future  day  for  further  confideration, 
and  he  appointed  Monday,  the  29th-  for  that  purpofe. 

Novemr  29th'  1773.  Prefent  in  Council:  His  Excellency 
Thos-  Hutchinfon,  Efqr-  Governor. 

Samuel  Danforth,  Efqr-  James  Bowdoin,     Geo.  Leonard, 
Ifaac  Royal,  James  Ruffell,        Artemas  Ward, 

John  Erving,  James  Pitts,  John  Winthrop, 

Samuel  Dexter,  Efqra- 

1  Samuel  Danforth,  son  of  Rev.  John,  Register  of  Probate,  1731-45;   Judge  of 

of    Dorchester,  died   in    Boston,  at   the  Probate,    1745-75  >     and    Judge    of    the 

house  of  his  son,  Dr.  Samuel  Danforth,  Court  of   Common    Pleas,    1741-75.     At 

27th  October,  1777;   aged   about  eighty-  the  Revolution  he  passed  out  of  office, 

one.       He    was   graduated    at    Harvard  but  was  so  quiet  in  his  deportment  that, 

University,  in  1715;  taught  school;  was  though  understood   to  be  a  loyalist,  he 

a  Selectman    in    1 733-39  ;    representative  was  not  disturbed  in   the  possession  of 

1 734-38;    member  of   the    Council  1739-  his  property.     He  was  distinguished  for 

1774,  and  several    years    its    president;  his  love  of  the  natural  sciences. 


316  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

His  Excellency  directed  that  the  Council  proceed  upon 
the  bufmefs  for  which  it  ftands  adjourned.  After  debate 
upon  the  report  of  the  Comte.e  the  queftion  whether  it  fhould 
be  accepted  was  put,  which  paffed  unanimoufly  in  the 
affirmative  as  the  advice  of  the  Council  to  his  Excellency, 
in  the  words  following,  viz. : 

Previous  to  the  confideration  of  the  petition  before  the 
Board,  they  would  make  a  few  obfervations  occafioned  by 
the  fubject  of  it.  The  fituation  of  things  between  Great 
Britain  and  the  Colonies  has  been  for  fome  years  paft  very 
unhappy.  Parliament,  on  the  one  hand,  has  been  taxing 
the  Colonies,  and  they,  on  the  other  hand,  have  been  peti- 
tioning and  remonftrating  againft  it,  apprehending  they  have 
constitutionally  an  exclufive  right  of  taxing  themfelves,  and 
that  without  fuch  a  right,  their  condition  would  be  but  little 
better  than  flavery. 

Poffeffed  of  thefe  fentiments,  every  new  meafure  of  Parlia- 
ment tending  to  eftablifh  and  confirm  a  tax  on  them  renews 
and  increases  their  diftrefs,  and  it  is  particularly  encreafed  by 
the  Act  lately  made,  empowering  the  Eaft  India  Company 
to  fhip  their  tea  to  America.  This  Act,  in  a  commercial 
view,  they  think  introductive  of  monopolies,  and  tending  to 
bring  on  them  the  extenfive  evils  thence  arifmg.  But  their 
great  objection  to  it  is  from  its  being  manifeflly  intended 
(tho'  that  intention  is  not  expreffed  therein,)  more  effectually 
to  fecure  the  payment  of  the  duty  on  tea,  laid  by  an  Act 
of  Parliament  paffed  in  the  7th  year  of  his  prefent  Majefly, 
entitled,  "  An  Act  for  granting  certain  duties  in  the  Britifh 
colonies  and  plantations  in  America,"  which  Act  in  its 
operation  deprives  the  colonifts  of  the  right  above  mentioned 
(the  exclufive  right  of  taxing  themfelves),  which  they  hold  to 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  317 

be  fo  effential  a  one  that  it  cannot  be  taken  away  or  given 
up,  without  their  being  degraded,  or  degrading  themfelves 
below  the  character  of  men. 

It  not  only  deprives  them  of  that  right,  but  enacts  that 
the  monies  arifmg  from  the  duties  granted  by  it  may  be 
applied  "as  his  Majefty  or  his  fucceffors  mail  think  proper 
or  neceffary  for  defraying  the  charges  of  the  administration 
of  juftice  and  the  fupport  of  the  civil  government,  in  all  or 
any  of  the  faid  colonies  or  plantations." 

This  claufe  of  the  Act  has  already  operated  in  fome  of 
the  colonies,  and  in  this  colony  in  particular,  with  regard  to 
the  fupport  of  civil  government,  and  thereby  has  operated 
in  diminution  of  its  charter  rights  to  the  great  grief  of  the 
good  people  of  it,  who  have  been  and  ftill  are  greatly 
alarmed  by  repeated  reports,  that  it  is  to  have  a  further 
operation  with  refpect  to  the  defraying  the  charge  of  the 
administration  of  juftice,  which  would  not  only  be  a  further 
diminution  of  thofe  rights,  but  tend  in  all  constitutional 
queftions,  and  in  many  other  cafes  of  importance  to  bias 
the  judges  againft  the  fubject.  They  humbly  rely  on  the 
juftice  and  goodnefs  of  his  Majefty  for  the  reftitution  and 
prefervation  of  thofe  rights. 

This  fhort  ftatement  of  facets  the  board  thought  it  neceffary 
to  be  given  to  mew  the  caufe  of  the  prefent  great  uneafmefs 
which  is  not  confined  to  this  neighbourhood,  but  is  general 
and  extenfive.  The  people  think  their  exclufive  right  of 
taxing  themfelves  by  their  reprefentatives,  infringed  and 
violated  by  the  Act  above  mentioned.  That  the  new  Act 
empowering  the  Eaft  India  Company  to  import  their  tea 
into  America  confirms  that  violation,  and  is  a  new  effort, 
not  only  more  effectually  to  fecure  the  payment  of  the  tea 
35 


318  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS 

duty,  but  lay  a  foundation  for  enhancing  it,  and  in  a  like 
way,  if  this  mould  fucceed,  to  lay  other  taxes  on  America. 
That  it  is  in  its  attendants  and  confequences  ruinous  to  the 
liberties  and  properties  of  themfelves  and  their  poflerity ; 
that  as  their  numerous  petitions  for  relief  have  been  rejected, 
the  faid  New  Act  demonftrates  an  indifpofition  in  minif- 
try  that  Parliament  mould  grant  them  relief ;  that  this  is 
the  fource  of  their  diftrefs,  a  diflrefs  that  borders  upon 
difpair,  and  that  they  know  not  where  to  apply  for  relief. 

Thefe  being  the  fentiments  of  the  people,  it  is  become 
the  indifpenfible  duty  of  this  Board  to  mention  them  that 
the  occafion  of  the  late  demands  on  Mr.  Clarke  and  others, 
the  agents  of  the  Eaft  India  Company,  and  of  the  confe- 
quent  difturbances,  the  authors  of  which  we  have  advifed 
mould  be  profecuted,  but  to  give  a  juft  idea  of  the  rife  of 
them. 

On  this  occafion,  juftice  impels  us  to  declare  that  the 
people  of  this  Town  and  Province,  tho'  they  have  a  high 
fenfe  of  liberty  derived  from  the  manners,  the  example  and 
conftitution  of  the  mother  country,  have,  'till  the  late  parlia- 
mentary taxation  of  the  Colonies,  been  as  free  from  dif- 
turbances as  any  people  whatever. 

This  reprefentation  the  Board  thought  neceffary  to  be 
made  prior  to  their  taking  notice  of  the  petition  of  the 
agents  above  mentioned,  to  the  confideration  of  which  they 
now  proceed. 

The  petitioners  beg  leave  "  to  refign  themfelves,  and  the 
property  committed  to  their  care,  to  his  Excellency  and  the 
Board,  as  guardians  and  protectors  of  the  people,  praying 
that  meafures  may  be  directed  to  for  the  landing  and  fecur- 
ing  the  tea,"  &c. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  319 

With  regard  to  the  perfonal  protection  of  the  petitioners, 
the  Board  have  not  been  informed  that  they  have  applied 
for  it  to  any  of  the  juftices  of  the  peace,  they  being  vefted 
by  law  with  all  the  authority  neceffary  for  the  protection  of 
his  Majefty's  fubjecls.  In  the  principal  inftance  of  abufe  of 
which  they  complain,  the  Board  have  already  advifed  that 
the  authors  of  it  mould  be  profecuted  according  to  law,  and 
they  do  advife  the  fame  in  the  other  inflances  mentioned 
in  their  petition. 

With  regard  to  the  tea  committed  to  the  care  of  the 
petitioners,  the  Board  have  no  authority  to  take  either  that 
or  any  other  merchandize  out  of  their  care,  and  mould  they 
do  it,  or  give  any  order  or  advice  concerning  it,  and  a  lofs 
enfue,  they  apprehend  they  mould  make  themfelves  refponfi- 
ble  for  it.  With  refpecl  to  the  prayer  of  the  petition,  that 
meafures  may  be  directed  to  "  for  the  landing  and  fecuring 
the  tea,"  the  Board  would  obferve  on  it,  that  the  duty  on  the 
tea  becomes  payable,  and  muft  be  paid  or  fecured  to  be 
paid  on  its  being  landed,  and  mould  they  direct  or  advife  to 
any  meafure  for  landing  it,  that  would  of  courfe  advise  to  a 
meafure  for  procuring  the  payment  of  the  duty,  and  therefore 
by  advifing  to  a  meafure  inconfiftent  with  the  declared  fenti- 
ment  of  both  houfes  in  the  laft  winter  feffion  of  the  General 
Court,  which  they  apprehend  to  be  altogether  inexpedient 
and  improper. 

The  Board,  however,  on  this  occafion  affure  your  Excel- 
lency that  as  they  have  feen,  with  regret,  fome  late  dif- 
turbances,  and  have  advifed  to  the  profecuting  the  authors 
of  them,  fo  they  will  in  all  legal  methods  endeavor  to  the 
utmoft  of  their  power  to  prevent  them  in  future. 

Whereupon  advifed  that  his    Excellency  renew   his    orders 


320  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

to  his  majefty's  juftices  of  the  peace,  fheriffs,  and  other 
peace  officers,  to  exert  themfelves  to  the  utmoft  for  the 
fecurity  of  his  Majefty's  fubjecls,  the  prefervation  of  peace 
and  good  order,  and  for  preventing  all  offences  againft  the 
laws. 

His  Excellency  thereupon  demanded  of  the  Council 
whether  they  would  give  him  no  advife  upon  the  diforders 
then  prevailing  in  the  town  of  Bofton,  and  it  was  anfwered 
in  general  that  the  advife  already  given  was  intended  for 
that  purpofe. 

A  true  copy  from  the  minutes  of  the  Council. 

Atteft : 

THOS-    FLUCKER,    Secy- 


PROCEEDINGS    OF    THE    TOWN    OF   BOSTON    ON 
THE    29™   &    30"    NOVEMBR-    1773, 

Referred  to  by  the  Agents  there,  in  their  Letter  of  the 
2d  December, 


At  a  meeting  of  the  people  of  Bofton  and  the  neighbour- 
ing towns,  in  Faneuil  Hall,  in  faid  Bofton,  on  Monday,  29* 
Novemr>  1773,  nine  o'clock,  A.M.,  and  continued  by  adjourn- 
ment to  the  next  day,  for  the  purpofe  of  confulting,  advifmg, 
and  determining  upon  the  moft  proper  and  effectual  method 
to  prevent  the  unloading,  receiving  or  vending  the  deteftable 
tea  fent  out  by  the  Eaft  India  Company,  part  of  which 
being  juft  arrived  in  this  harbour,  in  order  to  proceed  with 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  321 

due  regularity,  it  was  moved  that  a  moderator  be  chofen, 
and  Jonathan  Williams,  Efqr--  was  then  chofen  moderator  of 
the  meeting. 

A  motion  was  made,  that  as  the  Town  of  Bofton  had 
determined,  at  a  late  meeting,  legally  affembled,  that  they 
would,  to  the  utmoft  of  their  power,  prevent  the  landing  of 
the  tea,  the  queftion  being  put  whether  this  body  be  abfo- 
lutely  determined  that  the  tea  now  arrived,  in  Cap1  Hall's 
ihip,  fhall  be  returned  to  the  place  from  whence  it  came, 
at  all  events,  and  the  queftion  being  accordingly  put,  it 
paffed  in  the  affirmative,  nem.  con. 

It  appearing  that  the  hall  could  not  contain  the  people 
affembled,  it  was  voted  that  the  meeting  be  immediately 
adjourned  to  the  Old  South  meeting-houfe,  leave  having 
been  obtained  for  this  purpofe. 

The  people  met  at  the  Old  South,  according  to  adjourn- 
ment. 

A  motion  was  made,  and  the  queftion  put,  viz. :  Whether 
it  is  the  firm  refolution  of  this  body,  that  the  tea  fhall  not 
only  be  fent  back,  but  that  no  duty  fhall  be  paid  thereon, 
and  paffed  in  the  affirmative,  nem.  con. 

It  was  moved,  that  in  order  to  give  time  to  the  con- 
fignees  to  confider  and  deliberate  before  they  fent  in  pro- 
pofals  to  this  body,  as  they  had  given  reafon  to  expect 
would  have  been  done  at  the  opening  of  the  meeting,  there 
might  be  an  adjournment  to  3  o'clock,  P.M.,  and  the  meeting 
was  accordingly  adjourned  for  that  purpofe. 

Three  o'clock,  P.M.       Met  according  to  adjournment. 

A  motion  was  made  whether  the  tea   non  arrived  in  Cap* 


322  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Hall's  fhip,  mall  be  fent  back  in  the  fame  bottom.  Faffed 
in  the  affirmative,  nem.  con. 

Mr.  Rotch,  the  owner  of  the  veffel,  being  prefent,  in- 
formed that  body  that  he  mould  enter  his  proteft  againft 
their  proceedings. 

It  was  then  moved  and  voted,  nem.  con.,  that  Mr.  Rotch 
be  directed  not  to  enter  this  tea,  and  that  the  doing  of  it 
will  be  at  his  peril. 

Alfo  voted,  that  Cap1-  Hall,  the  mafter  of  the  fhip,  be  in- 
formed that,  at  his  peril,  he  is  not  to  fuffer  any  of  the  tea 
brought  by  him,  to  be  landed. 

A  motion  was  made,  that  in  order  for  the  fecurity  of 
Cap1-  Hall's  fhip  and  cargo,  a  watch  may  be  appointed,  and 
it  was  voted  that  a  watch  be  accordingly  appointed,  to  con- 
fifl  of  25  men. 

Cap1-  Edward  Proctor  was  appointed  by  the  body  to  be 
cap1-  of  the  watch  for  this  night,  and  the  names  were  given 
in  to  the  moderator  of  the  townfmen  who  were  volunteers 
upon  the  occafion. 

It  having  been  obferved  to  the  body  that  Governor  Hutch- 
infon  had  required  the  juflices  of  the  peace  in  this  town 
to  meet  and  ufe  their  endeavours  to  fupprefs  any  routs,  or 
riots,  &c.,  of  the  people,  that  might  happen,  it  was  moved 
and  the  queftion  put,  whether  it  be  not  the  fenfe  of  this 
meeting  that  the  Governor's  conduct  herein  carries  a  defigned 
reflection  upon  the  people  here  met,  and  is  folely  calculated 
to  ferve  the  views  of  adminiftration.  Faffed  in  the  affirma- 
tive, nem.  con. 

The  people  being  informed  by  Colonel  Hancock  that  Mr. 
Copley,  fon-in-law  to  Mr.  Clarke,  fenr"  had  acquainted  him 
that  the  tea  confignees  did  not  receive  their  letters  from 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  323 

London  'till  laft  evening,  and  were  fo  difperfed  that  they 
could  not  have  a  joint  meeting  early  enough  to  make  their 
propofals  at  the  time  intended,  and  therefore  are  defirous  of 
a  further  fpace  for  that  purpofe. 

[It  is  neceffary  to  note  that  Mr.  Copley,  and  fome  others, 
our  friends  informing  us,  that  to  prevent  immediate  outrage, 
it  was  neceffary  for  us  to  fend  fomething  in  writing  to  the 
Select  men,  which  we  then  did,  abfolutely  refufmg  to  do  what 
they  had  before  informed  us  the  people  expected ;  but  Mr. 
Copley,  on  his  return  to  town,  fearing  the  moft  dreadful 
confequences,  thought  bell  not  to  deliver  our  letter  to  the 
Select  men,  he  returned  to  us  at  night  reprefenting  this. 
We  then  wrote  the  letter  you  fee  printed  in  this  paper.] 

The  meeting,  out  of  great  tendernefs  to  thefe  perfons,  and 
from  a  ftrong  defire  to  bring  this  matter  to  a  conclufion, 
notwithftanding  the  time  they  had  hitherto  expended  upon 
them,  to  no  purpofe,  were  prevailed  upon  to  adjourn  to  the 
next  morning,  9  o'clock. 

Thurfday  morning,  nine  o'clock. 

Met  according  to  adjournment. 

The  long-expected  propofals  were  at  length  brought  into 
this  meeting,  not  directed  to  the  moderator,  but  to  John 
Scollay,  Efqr->  one  of  the  Select  men.  It  was,  however, 
voted  that  the  fame  mould  be  read,  and  they  were,  as 
follows,  viz. : 

"Monday,  Novr  29th>   1773. 

Sir: 

We  are  forry  that  we  could  not  return, to  the  Town 
fatisfactory  anfwers  to  their  two   late    meffages  to  us  refpect- 


324  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ing  the  teas.  We  beg  leave  to  acquaint  the  gentlemen, 
Select  men,  that  we  have  fmce  received  our  orders  from  the 
Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Com" 

We  ftill  retain  a  difpofition  to  do  all  in  our  power  to  give 
fatisfaction  to  the  Town ;  but,  as  we  underftood  from  you 
and  the  other  gentlemen,  Select  men,  at  Meffrs.  Clarke's 
interview  with  you  laft  Saturday,  that  this  can  be  effected 
by  nothing  lefs  than  our  fending  back  the  teas,  we  beg 
leave  to  fay  that  this  is  utterly  out  of  our  power  to  do,  but 
we  do  now  declare  to  you  our  readinefs  to  flore  the  teas 
until  we  fhall  have  an  opportunity  of  writing  to  our  con- 
ftituents,  and  fhall  receive  their  further  orders  refpecting 
them,  and  we  do  moft  fmcerely  wifh  that  the  Town,  con- 
fidering  the  unexpected  difficulties  devolved  upon  us,  will  be 
fatisfied  with  what  we  now  offer.  We  are,  fir, 

Your  moft  humble  fervants, 

THOS-  &  ELISHA  HuTCHiNSON.1 
BENJ"  FANEUIL,  Junr>  for  felf  and 
JOSHUA  WINSLOW,  Efqr- 
RICHARD  CLARKE  &  SONS. 

To  John  Scollay,  Efqr-" 

1  Thomas  and  Elisha  Hutchinson,  spondent,  who  solicits  the  consignment 
sons  of  Governor  Hutchinson,  were  for  them,  without  mentioning  their  con- 
merchants  and  partners  in  business,  and  nection  with  the  Governor.  Thomas,  jr., 
consignees  of  one-third  of  the  tea  born  in  Boston,  in  1740,  was  a  man- 
shipped  to  Boston.  I  have  seen  no  damus  Councillor  and  Judge  of  Probate, 
evidence  of  a  pecuniary  interest  in  this  and  was  proscribed  and  banished.  When 
shipment  on  the  part  of  the  Governor,  the  condition  of  the  country  became  un- 
as  is  asserted  by  the  historian  Bancroft.  pleasantly  hostile,  he  left  the  mansion 
Their  names  were  given  to  the  East  house  at  Milton,  and  took  shelter  in 
India  Company  by  a  London  corre-  Boston,  but  left  all  the  furniture,  silver 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  325 

Mr.  Sheriff  Greenleaf  came  into  the  meeting,  and  begged 
leave  of  the  moderator  that  a  letter,  he  had  received  from 
the  Governor,  requiring  him  to  read  a  proclamation  to  the 
people  here  affembled,  might  be  read,  and  it  was  accordingly 
read. 

Whereupon  it  was  moved,  and  the  queftion  put,  whether 
the  fheriff  fhould  be  permitted  to  read  the  proclamation, 
which  paffed  in  the  affirmative,  nem.  con. 

The  proclamation  is  as  follows,  viz. : 

"  Maffachufetts   Bay.  By  the  Governor. 

To  Jonathan  Williams,  Efqr''  aEling  as  Moderator  of  an 
ajfembly  of  people,  in  the  Town  of  Bofton,  and  to  the 
people  fo  ajfembled: 

Whereas,  printed  notifications  were  on  Monday,  the  2Qth 
inft.,  ported  in  divers  places  in  the  town  of  Bofton,  and 
publifhed  in  the  news  papers  of  this  day,  calling  upon  the 
people  to  affemble  together  for  certain  unlawful  purpofes,  in 
fuch  notifications  mentioned ;  and  whereas,  great  numbers 
of  perfons  belonging  to  the  town  of  Bofton,  and  divers 
others  belonging  to  feveral  other  towns  in  the  Province,  did 

plate,  &c.,  expecting  to  be  able  to  pass  died    at    Blurton  Parsonage,   Trentham, 

and  repass  at   pleasure.     When   Boston  Staffordshire,    England,    in    November, 

was  evacuated,  he    and    his  family,  and  1824.     His  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  Col. 

Peter  Oliver   and   family,  embarked  for  George    Watson,    of    Plymouth,    Mass., 

London,    in    the  "  Lord    Hyde"    packet.  died  at    Birmingham,  England,  in  1803. 

He    settled    at   Heavitree,  near    Exeter,  "  Neither  of  my  sons,"  wrote  the  Gover- 

in  Devonshire,  and   died  there  in  1811.  nor,    in    March,    1774,    "have    dared    to 

His  wife  was  Sarah  Oliver.  appear  in   Boston   since    the  latter  part 

Elisha,     his    brother,    born    in    1745,  of  November,  to   the   total    neglect  and 

graduated    at     Harvard    University,    in  ruin  of  their  business." 
1762  ;   was  proscribed  and  banished,  and 

36 


326  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

affemble  in  the  faid  town  of  Bofton,  on  the  faid  day,  and 
did  then  and  there  proceed  to  chufe  a  moderator,  and  to 
confult,  debate,  and  refolve  upon  ways  and  means  for  carry- 
ing fuch  unlawful  purpofes  into  execution,  openly  violating, 
defying  and  fetting  at  naught  the  good  and  wholefome  laws 
of  the  Province,  and  the  conflitution  of  government  under 
which  they  live ;  and  whereas,  the  people  thus  affembled, 
did  vote  or  agree  to  adjourn,  or  continue  their  meeting  to 
this  the  3Oth  inft.,  and  great  numbers  of  them  are  again  met 
or  affembled  together  for  the  like  purpofe,  in  the  faid  town 
of  Bofton  : 

In  faithfulnefs  to  my  truft,  and  as  his  Majefty's  reprefenta- 
tive  within  the  Province,  I  am  bound  to  bear  teftimony 
againft  this  violation  of  the  laws,  and  I  warn  and  exhort  you 
and  require  you,  and  each  of  you  thus  unlawfully  affembled 
forthwith,  to  difperfe  and  to  furceafe  all  further  unlawful 
proceedings  at  your  utmoft  peril. 

Given  under  my  hand,  at  Milton,  in  the  Province  afore- 
faid,  the  3Oth  day  of  Novr->  1773,  and  in  the  fourteenth  year 
of  his  Majefty's  reign. 

T.  HUTCHINSON. 

By  his  Excellency's  command. 

THOS-  FLUCKER,  Secy-" 

And  the  fame  being  read  by  the  fheriff,1  there  was,  im- 
mediately after,  a  loud  and  very  general  hifs. 

A  motion  was  then  made,  and  the  queftion  put  whether 
the  affembly  would  difperfe  and  furceafe  all  further  proceed- 

1  Stephen  Greenleaf,  sheriff  of  Suffolk      1776.     He  died  in  Boston,  in  1795  ;  aged 
County,  was  arrested  by  the  Council  of      ninety-one. 
Massachusetts   as    a    loyalist,   in    April, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  327 

ings,  according  to  the  Governor's  requirement.  It  paffed 
in  the  nege>  nem.  con. 

A  propofal  of  Mr.  Copley  was  made,  that  in  cafe  he 
could  prevail  with  the  Meffrs.  Clarkes  to  come  into  this 
meeting,  the  queflion  might  now  be  put,  whether  they  mould 
be  treated  with  civility  while  in  the  meeting,  though  they 
might  be  of  different  fentiments  with  this  body,  and  their 
perfons  be  fafe,  until  their  return  to  the  place  from  whence 
they  mould  come.  And  the  queftion  being  accordingly  put, 
paffed  in  the  affirmative,  nem.  con. 

Another  motion  of  Mr.  Copley's  was  put,  whether  two 
hours  mail  be  given  him,  which  alfo  paffed  in  the  affirmative. 

Adjourned  'till  two  o'clock,  P.M. 

Two  o'clock,  P.M.  Met  according  to  adjournment.  A 
motion  was  made  and  paffed,  that  Mr.  Rotch  and  Captn 
Hall  be  defired  to  give  their  attendance.  Mr.  Rotch  ap- 
peared, and  upon  a  motion  made,  the  queftion  was  put, 
whether  it  is  the  firm  refolution  of  this  body,  that  the  tea 
brought  by  Captn  Hall  mall  be  returned  by  Mr.  Rotch  to 
England,  in  the  bottom  in  which  it  came,  and  whether  they 
accordingly  now  require  the  fame,  which  paffed  in  the 
affirmative,  nem.  con. 

Mr.  Rotch  then  informed  the  meeting,  that  he  mould 
protefl  againft  the  whole  proceedings,  as  he  had  done  againft 
the  proceedings  on  yefterday,  but  that,  tho'  the  returning 
the  tea  is  an  acl  in  him,  he  yet  confiders  himfeif  as  under 
a  neceffity  to  do  it,  and  mall  therefore  comply  with  the 
requirement  of  this  body. 

Captain  Hall  being  prefent,  was  forbid  to  aid  or  affift  in 
unloading  the  teas  at  his  peril,  and  ordered,  that  if  he  con- 


328  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

tinues  mafter  of  the  veffel,  he  carry  the  fame  back  to  Lon- 
don, who  replied,  he  fhould  comply  with  thefe  requirements. 

Upon  a  motion,  refolved,  that  John  Rowe,  Efqr-'  owner  of 
part  of  Cap'-  Bruce's  fhip,  expected  with  tea,  as  alfo  Mr. 
Timmins,  factor  for  Cap'-  Coffin's  brig,  be  defired  to  attend. 

Mr.  Ezekiel  Cheever  was  appointed  captain  of  the  watch 
for  this  night,  and  a  fufficient  number  of  volunteers  gave  in 
their  names  for  that  fervice. 

Voted,  that  the  captain  of  this  watch  be  defired  to  make 
out  a  lift  of  the  watch  for  the  next  night,  and  fo  each 
captain  of  the  watch  for  the  following  nights,  until  the 
veffels  leave  the  harbour. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  voted,  that  in  cafe  it  mould  happen 
that  the  watch  mould  be  any  ways  molefled  in  the  night, 
while  on  duty,  they  give  the  alarm  to  the  inhabitants  by 
the  tolling  of  the  bells,  and  that  if  any  thing  happens  in 
the  day  time,  the  alarm  be  by  ringing  of  the  bells. 

Voted,  that  fix  perfons  be  appointed,  to  be  in  readinefs, 
to  give  due  notice  to  the  country  towns,  when  they  mail  be 
required  fo  to  do,  upon  any  important  occafion,  and  fix  per- 
fons were  accordingly  chofen  for  that  purpofe. 

John  Rowe,  Efqr"  attended,  and  was  informed  that  Mr. 
Rotch  had  engaged,  that  his  veffel  mould  carry  back  the 
tea  me  brought,  in  the  fame  bottom,  and  that  it  was  the 
expectation  of  this  body  that  he  does  the  fame  by  the  tea, 
expected  in  Cap1-  Bruce,  whereupon  he  replied,  that  the  fhip 
was  under  the  care  of  the  faid  mafter,  but  that  he  would 
ufe  his  utmoft  endeavor,  that  it  mould  go  back  as  required 
by  this  body,  and  that  he  would  give  immediate  advice  of 
the  arrival  of  faid  fhip. 

Voted,  that  it  is    the    fenfe  of    this  body,  that  Cap4-   Bruce 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  329 

lhall,  on  his  arrival,  ftriclly  conform  to  the  votes  paffed 
reflecting  Cap1-  Hall's  veffel,  as  they  had  all  been  paffed  in 
reference  to  Cap1-  Bruce's  fhip. 

Mr.  Timmins  appeared  and  informed,  that  Cap1-  Coffin's  brig? 
expected  with  tea,  was  owned  in  Nantucket.  He  gave  his  word 
of  honor  that  no  tea  mould  be  landed  while  me  was  under 
his  care,  nor  touched  by  any  one,  until  the  owner's  arrival. 

It  was  then  voted,  that  what  Mr.  Rowe  and  Mr.  Timmins 
had  offered,  was  fatisfactory  to  the  body. 

Mr.  Copley1  returned,  and  acquainted  the  body,  that  as 
he  had  been  obliged  to  go  to  the  caftle,  he  hoped  that  if 
he  had  exceeded  the  time  allowed  him,  they  would  confider 
the  difficulty  of  a  paffage  by  water  at  this  feafon,  as  an 
apology.  He  then  further  acquainted  the  body,  that  he 
had  feen  all  the  confignees,  and  though  he  had  convinced 
them  that  they  might  attend  this  meeting  with  fafety, 
and  had  ufed  his  utmoft  endeavors  to  prevail  on  them  to 
give  fatisfaction  to  the  body,  they  acquainted  him,  that  be- 
lieving nothing  would  be  fatisfaclory  fhort  of  refhipping 
the  tea,  which  was  out  of  their  power,  they  thought  it 
beft  not  to  appear,  but  would  renew  their  propofal  of 
ftoring  the  tea,  and  fubmitting  the  fame  to  the  inflection 
of  a  committee,  and  that  they  could  go  no  further  with- 
out incurring  their  own  ruin ;  but  as  they  had  not  been 
active  in  introducing  the  tea,  they  mould  do  nothing  to 
obftruct  the  people  in  their  procedure  with  the  fame. 

1  John    Singleton    Copley,    a    famous  self-taught     artist,    and     after    painting 

painter,   son-in-law    of    Richard    Clarke,  many    portraits    in    Boston,    settled    in 

and  father  of  Lord  Lyndhurst,  was  born  London    in    1775,  and    acquired   a   high 

in    Boston,    July    3,    1737,    and    died  in  reputation. 
London,  September  9,  1813.     He  was  a 


33°  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

It  was  then  moved,  and  the  queftion  put  whether  the 
return  made  by  Mr.  Copley  from  the  confignees  be  in  the 
leaft  degree  fatisfactory  to  this  body.  It  paffed  in  the 
negative,  nem.  con. 

Whereas,  a  number  of  merchants  in  this  Province  have 
inadvertently  imported  tea  from  Great  Britain,  while  it  is 
fubje6t  to  the  payment  of  a  duty,  impofed  upon  it  by  an 
A61  of  Parliament,  for  the  purpofe  of  raifmg  a  revenue  in 
America,  and  appropriating  the  fame,  without  the  confent  of 
thofe  who  are  required  to  pay  it,  Refolved,  that  in  thus  im- 
porting faid  tea,  they  have  juftly  incurred  the  difpleafure  of 
our  brethren  in  the  other  Colonies. 

And  refolved  further,  that  if  any  perfon  or  perfons  mall 
hereafter  import  tea  from  Great  Britain,  mail  take  the  fame 
on  board,  to  be  imported  to  this  place,  until  the  faid  un- 
righteous A61  mail  be  repealed,  he  or  they  mail  be  deemed 
by  this  body  an  enemy  to  his  country,  and  we  will  prevent 
the  landing  and  fale  of  the  fame,  and  the  payment  of  any 
duty  thereon,  and  we  will  effect  the  return  thereof  to  the 
place  from  whence  it  mall  come. 

Refolved,  that  the  foregoing  vote  be  printed  and  fent  to 
England,  and  all  the  fea  ports  in  this  Province. 

Upon  a  motion  made,  voted  that  fair  copies  be  taken  of 
the  whole  proceedings  of  this  meeting,  and  tranfmitted  to 
New  York  and  Philadelphia,  and  that  Mr.  Samuel  Adams, 
Hon'ble  John  Hancock,  Efqr-'  William  Phillips,  Efqr"  John 
Rowe,  Efqr>>  Jonathan  Williams,  Efqr-'  be  a  committee  to 
tranfmit  the  fame. 

Voted,  That  it  is  the  determination  of  this  body  to  carry 
their  votes  and  refolutions  into  execution,  at  the  risque  of 
their  lives  and  property.  • 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  331 

Voted,  That  the  committee  of  correfpondence  for  this 
town  be  defired  to  take  care,  that  every  other  veffel  with 
tea  that  arrives  in  this  harbour,  have  a  proper  watch  ap- 
pointed for  her;  alfo, 

Voted,  That  thofe  perfons  who  are  defirous  of  making  a 
part  of  thefe  nightly  watches,  be  defired  to  give  in  their 
names  at  Meffrs.  Edes  &  Gill's  printing  office. 

Voted,  That  our  brethren  in  the  country  be  defired  to 
afford  their  affiftance  upon  the  firft  notice  given,  efpecially 
if  fuch  notice  be  given  upon  the  arrival  of  Captn  Loring,  in 
Mr.  Clarke's  brigantine. 

Voted,  That  thofe  of  this  body  who  belong  to  the  town 
of  Bofton,  do  return  their  thanks  to  their  brethren  who 
have  come  from  the  neighbouring  towns,  for  their  counte- 
nance aqd  union  with  this  body,  in  this  exigence  of  our 
affairs. 

Voted,  That  the  thanks  of  this  meeting  be  given  to 
Jonathan  Williams,  Efqr"  for  his  good  fervices  as  moderator. 

Voted,  That  this  meeting  be  diffolved,  and  it  was  accord- 
ingly diffolved. 


LETTER    ADDRESSED    TO    GEO.    DUDLEY,    ESQR- 

Enclofeng  j  news  papers  and  an  advertifement^  in  the  name 
of  the  people,  threatening  vengeance  on  thofe  who  favored 
the  tea  fcheme. 

Sir: 

The  ftate  and  condition  of   the   Hon'ble  Company's 
tea  in  America    is    as  you  will  find    in   the    enclofed    papers. 


332  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Unlefs  the  Tea  A6t  is  repealed,  no  tea  can  be  fold  in 
America.  Repeal  the  Act,  and  you  may  difpofe  of  all  your 
teas.  The  Americans  will  not  be  flaves,  neither  are  they 
to  be  trapped  under  the  notion  of  cheap  teas.  Death  is 
more  defirable  to  them  than  flavery,  —  it  is  impoffible  to 
make  the  Americans  fwallow  the  tea.  The  miniftry  may 
amufe  the  Company,  by  telling  them  their  tea  mail  be  fold, 
and  the  Acl  preferved,  but  they  are  groffly  miftaken.  None 
of  it  is  yet  landed,  neither  mall  it  be. 

Your  humble  fervant, 

ANGLO  AMERICANUS. 
Bofton,  New  England, 
Decr  i3'h-  1773. 

The  papers  enclofed  contain  an  account  of  the  proceed- 
ings of  the  town  of  Bofton,  on  the  2Qth  &  3Oth  November, 
and  of  the  refolves  of  fome  of  the  neighboring  towns.  (The 
papers  are  in  the  mifcellany  bundle.) 


LETTER    ADDRESSED    TO    GEO.    DUDLEY,   ESQR- 
Enclofeng  a  Bq/lon  news  paper  of  the  i6th  Decr'  ///J. 

Bofton,  New  England,   17*  Decr->   1773. 
Gentlemen : 

Your  tea  is  deftroyed,  which  was  brought  in  three 
mips,  Capts>  Bruce,  Hall  and  Coffin,  and  the  brig  with  tea 
is  caft  away.  If  the  tea  is  got  on  more,  it  will  fhare  the 
fame  fate.  Every  poffible  means  has  been  ufed  to  fend  it 
home  fafe  again  to  you,  but  the  tea  confignees  would  not 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS  333 

fend  it ;  then  application  was  made  to  the  commiffioners 
of  the  cufloms  to  clear  out  the  veffel,  —  they  would  not  do 
it,  then  to  the  Governor  to  grant  a  pafs,  which  he  refufed, 
and  finally  the  people  were  obliged  to  deftroy  it,  (fe  defen- 
dendo,)  or  elfe,  by  an  unlawful  unrighteous  Ac!:,  impofmg  a 
duty  this  tea  would  have  deftroyed  them.  This  whole 
province,  of  fome  hundred  thoufand  people,  and  the  other 
provinces  on  the  continent,  are  determined  neither  to  ufe  it, 
or  fuffer  it  to  be  landed,  nor  pay  the  duty.  Force  can  never 
make  them,  and  if  the  Company  can  ever  expecl:  to  fell  any 
tea  in  America,  they  muft  ufe  all  their  intereft  to  get  this 
Tea  Act  repealed,  otherwife  they  will  never  fell  one  ounce. 
There  is  the  utmoft  deteftation  of  tea ;  even  fome  of  our 
country  towns  have  collected  all  the  tea  they  had  by  them, 
and  burnt  it  in  their  public  common,  as  fo  much  chains 
and  flavery.  Get  the  Tea  Ac~l  repealed,  and  you'll  fell  all 
your  tea,  otherwife  you  muft  keep  all.  The  people  will  rifk 
life  and  fortune  in  this  affair,  —  the  very  being  of  America 
depends  on  it.  I  am  forry  the  Company  are  led  into  fuch 
a  fcrape  by  the  miniftry,  to  try  the  American's  bravery,  at 
the  expence  of  their  property.  The  artifice  of  the  miniftry 
is  to  difpofe  of  your  tea,  and  preferve  the  vile  Tea  Acl ;  but 
they'll  mifs  their  aim,  —  the  Americans  will  not  fwallow 
cheap  tea,  which  has  a  poifon  in  the  heart  of  it.  They  fee 
the  hook  thro'  the  bait.  I  am  a  well  wifher  to  the  Com- 
pany, and  alfo  to  America ;  but  death  to  an  American  is 
more  defirable  than  flavery. 

I  am,  gentlemen,  with  all  due  refpecl, 

Your  honors  moft  obedient,  humble  fervant, 

ANGLO  AMERICANOS. 
37 


334  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


As  contained  in  the  Bqfton  news  paper  of  the  i6th  Decr 

Bofton,  Thurfday,  Decr  i6th>   1773. 

It  being  underftood  that  Mr.  Rotch,  owner  of  the  fhip 
Dartmouth,  rather  lingered  in  his  preparations  to  return  her 
to  London,  with  the  Eaft  India  Company's  tea  on  board, 
there  was,  on  Monday  laft  P.M.,  a  meeting  of  the  committee 
of  the  feveral  neighboring  towns  in  Bofton,  and  Mr.  Rotch 
was  fent  for  and  enquired  of,  whether  he  continued  his  refo- 
lution  to  comply  with  the  injunctions  of  the  body  on 
Monday  and  Tuefday  preceding.  Mr.  Rotch  anfwered  that 
in  the  interim  he  had  taken  the  advice  of  the  beft  counfel, 
and  found  that  in  cafe  he  went  on  of  his  own  motion  to 
fend  that  fhip  to  fea  in  the  condition  me  was  then  in,  it 
muft  inevitably  ruin  him,  and  therefore  he  mufl  beg  them 
to  confider  what  he  had  faid  at  that  meeting  to  be  the 
effect  of  compulfion,  and  unadvifed,  and  in  confequence  that 
he  was  not  holden  to  abide  by  it,  when  he  was  now  affured 
that  he  muft  be  utterly  ruined  in  cafe  he  did.  Mr.  Rotch 
was  then  afked  whether  he  would  demand  a  clearance  for 
his  fhip  in  the  cuftom  houfe,  and  in  cafe  of  a  refufal  enter 
a  proteft,  and  then  apply  in  like  manner  for  a  pafs,  and 
order  her  out  to  fea  ?  To  all  which  he  anfwered  in  the 
negative.  The  committee,  doubtlefs  informing  their  con- 
ftituents  of  what  had  paffed,  a  very  full  meeting  of  the  body 
was  again  affembled  at  the  Old  South  meeting-house,  on 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  335 

Tuefday  afternoon,  and  Mr.  Rotch  being  again  prefent,  was 
enquired  of  as  before,  and  a  motion  was  made  and  feconded 
that  Mr.  Rotch  be  enjoined  forthwith  to  repair  to  the  col- 
lectors and  demand  a  clearance  for  his  Ihip,  and  ten  gent- 
were  appointed  to  accompany  him,  as  witneffes  of  the 
demand.  Mr.  Rotch  then  proceeded  with  the  committee  to 
Mr.  Harrifon's  lodgings,  and  made  the  demand.  Mr.  Harri- 
fon  obferved  he  could  not  give  an  anfwer  'till  he  had  con- 
fulted  the  comptroller,  but  would,  at  office  hours  next 
morning,  give  a  decifive  anfwer.  On  the  return  of  Mr. 
Rotch  and  the  committee  to  the  body  with  this  report,  the 
meeting  was  adjourned  to  Thurfday  morning,  at  ten  o'clock. 

Thurfday. 

Having  met  on  Thurfday  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  they 
fent  for  Mr.  Rotch,  and  afked  him  if  he  had  been  to  the 
collector,  and  demanded  a  clearance.  He  faid  he  had ;  but 
the  collector  faid  that  he  could  not,  confiftent  with  his  duty, 
give  him  a  clearance  'till  all  the  dutiable  articles  were  out 
of  his  fhip.  They  then  demanded  of  him  whether  he  had 
protefted  againft  the  collector ;  he  faid  he  had  not.  They 
ordered  him,  upon  his  peril,  to  give  immediate  orders  to  the 
captain,  to  get  his  fhip  ready  for  fea  to-day,  enter  a  proteft 
immediately  againft  the  cuftom  houfe,  and  then  proceed 
directly  to  the  Governor,  (who  was  at  his  feat  at  Milton,  7 
miles  off,)  and  demand  a  pafs  for  his  fhip  to  go  by  the 
caftle.  They  then  adjourned  'till  three  o'clock,  P.M.,  to  wait 
Mr.  Rotch's  return. 

Having  met  according  to  adjournment,  there  was  the 
fulleft  meeting  ever  known.  (It  was  reakoned  that  there 


336  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

were  2000  men  from  the  country.)  They  waited  very 
patiently  'till  5  o'clock. 

When  they  found  Mr.  Rotch  did  not  return,  they  began 
to  be  very  uneafy,  called  for  a  diffolution  of  the  meeting, 
and  finally  obtained  a  vote  for  it.  But  the  more  moderate 
part  of  the  meeting,  fearing  what  would  be  the  confe- 
quences,  begged  that  they  would  reconfider  their  vote,  and 
wait  'till  Mr.  Rotch's  return,  for  this  reafon,  that  they  ought 
to  do  everything  in  their  power  to  fend  the  tea  back, 
according  to  their  refolves. 

They  obtained  a  vote  to  remain  together  one  hour  longer. 
In  about  three-quarters  of  an  hour  Mr.  Rotch  returned,  his 
anfwer  from  the  Governor  was,  that  he  could  not  give  a 
pafs  'till  the  fhip  was  cleared  by  the  cuftom  houfe.  The 
people  immediately,  as  with  one  voice,  called  for  a  diffolu- 
tion, which  having  obtained,  they  repaired  to  Griffin's  wharf^ 
where  the  tea  veffels  lay,  proceeded  to  fix  tackles  and  hoift 
the  tea  upon  deck,  cut  the  chefts  to  pieces,  and  threw  the 
tea  over  the  fide.  There  were  two  mips  and  a  brig,  Capt3- 
Hall,  Bruce  and  Coffin,  each  veffel  having  114  chefts  of  tea 
on  board.  They  began  upon  the  two  fhips  firft,  as  they 
had  nothing  on  board  but  the  tea ;  then  proceeded  to  the 
brig,  which  had  hauled  to  the  wharf  but  the  day  before, 
and  had  but  a  fmall  part  of  her  cargo  out.  The  captain 
of  the  brig  begged  they  would  not  begin  with  his  veffel,  as 
the  tea  was  covered  with  goods  belonging  to  different 
merchants  in  the  town.  They  told  him  the  tea  they  wanted, 
and  the  tea  they  would  have  ;  but  if  he  would  go  into  his 
cabin  quietly,  not  one  article  of  his  goods  mould  be  hurt. 
They  immediately  proceeded  to  remove  the  goods,  and  then 
to  difpofe  of  the  tea. 


(See  page 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


339 


Mr.  Pownall1  prefents  his  compliments  to  Mr. 
Wheler,  and  fends  him,  by  Lord  Dartmouth's  directions, 
extract  of  a  letter  received  yefterday  from  the  Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  South  Carolina.  If  the  India  Company  have 
received  any  advices,  Lord  Dartmouth  will  be  obliged  to 
him  for  a  communication  thereof. 
Whitehall,  29th  Jan.,  1774. 


EXTRACT  OF  A  LETTER  FROM  GOV.  BULL,2 

Dated  Charles  Town,  24  Decr-'  ///j",  to  the  Earl  of 

Dartmoiith. 


On  the  2d  infi,  Cap1-  Curling  arrived  here  with  257  chefts 
of  tea,  fent    by  the    Eaft    India    Company,  with    the  fame  in- 


1  John  Pownall,  many  years  Clerk  of  the 
Reports,  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Trade 
(1754-68,)    Deputy     Secretary    of     State 
(1768-76,)  and  afterwards  a  Commissioner 
of  the  Board  of   Customs,  a  Magistrate 
and  High   Sheriff  of   Lincolnshire,  died 
MI  London,  July  17,  1795  ;  aged  seventy. 
His     brother,     Thomas,     Governor    of 
Massachusetts    in    1757-60,    afterwards, 
while  a  member  of  Parliament,  opposed 
the  American  policy  of  the  Government. 

2  William     Bull,     M.  D.,     Lieutenant- 
Governor  of  South  Carolina,  from  1764 
to  1776,  was    the    son  of   William,  who 
held  the  same  office  from  1738  to  1743, 


and  who  was  the  son  of  Stephen,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  of  South  Carolina, 
and  Surveyor-General  of  the  Province. 
William  studied  medicine  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Leyden,  and  was  the  pupil 
of  the  celebrated  Boerhaave.  He  settled 
in  practice  in  his  native  Province  ;  be- 
came a  member  of  the  Council  in  1751, 
and  in  1763  was  Speaker  of  the  As- 
sembly. Faithful  to  the  Crown,  he 
accompanied  the  British  troops  to  Eng- 
land, on  their  departure  in  1782,  and 
died  in  London,  July  4,  1791  ;  aged 
eighty-one. 


34°  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ftrucflions  to  agents  appointed  here  as  at  Bofton,  New  York 
and  Philadelphia.  The  fpirit  which  had  been  raifed  in 
thofe  towns  with  great  threats  of  violence  to  hinder  the 
landing  and  difpofmg  of  the  tea  there,  was  communicated  to 
this  Province  by  letters,  gazettes,  and  merchants.  Several 
meetings  of  the  inhabitants  of  Charles  Town  were  held,  to 
confider  of  meafures  to  effect  the  like  prohibitions  here,  but 
tho'  the  warmth  of  fome  were  great,  many  were  cool,  and 
fome  differed  in  the  reafonablenefs  and  utility  thereof.  The 
gentlemen  who  were  appointed  agents  for  the  Earl  India 
Comy  were  prevailed  upon  by  threats  and  flattery  to  decline 
the  truft,  and  in  imitation  of  the  northern  towns,  declarations 
were  made  that  it  mould  not  be  landed. 

The  tea  was  all  this  time  kept  on  board  the  fhip,  the  cap- 
tain being  apprehenfive  of  fome  violence  on  his  attempting 
to  land  it,  and  there  being  no  perfons  empowered  to  take 
charge  of  it.  When  the  period  of  20  days  after  his  arrival 
approached,  at  which  time  the  collector  of  his  Majefty's 
cuftoms,  by  his  inftruclions,  is  required  to  feize  goods  liable  to 
pay  duty,  to  fecure  the  payment  thereof,  tho'  the  merchants 
of  the  town  had  generally  difagreed  to  this  meafure  of  pro- 
hibiting the  landing  the  tea,  yet  fome  warm,  bold  fpirit,  took 
the  dangerous  meafure  of  fending  anonymous  letters  to  Cap'- 
Curling  and  fome  of  his  friends,  and  the  gentleman  who 
owned  the  wharf  where  the  fhip  lay,  requiring  Curling  to 
carry  his  fhip  from  the  wharf  to  the  middle  of  the  river, 
threatening  great  damages  on  failure. 

Thefe  letters  being  communicated  to  me,  I  fummoned  his 
Majefty's  council,  that  I  might  do  everything  in  my  power 
to  prevent  any  fuch  dangerous  attempts  to  difturb  the  public 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  341 

peace,  and  interrupt  the  feizure  and  landing  and  ftoring  by 
the  collector.  I  accordingly,  by  their  advice,  gave  orders 
to  the  fheriff  to  be  ready  at  the  call  of  the  collector,  (but 
not  to  move  without,)  with  all  his  officers,  to  fupport  the 
collector,  in  landing  it,  and  to  feize  and  to  bring  to  juftice 
any  perfons  who  mould  dare  to  interrupt  him  in  the  execu- 
tion of  his  duty.  It  being  known  that  fome  meafures  were 
taken,  tho'  the  extent  thereof  was  carefully  concealed,  the 
collector,  on  the  22d>  feized,  landed,  and  ftored  the  teas  in 
ftores  under  the  Exchange,  without  one  perfon's  appearing  to 
oppofe  him.  The  tea  is  to  remain  in  ftore  'till  the  collector 
mail  receive  further  orders  relative  thereto. 

Various  were  the  opinions  of  men  on  the  fubject ;  fome 
were  for  drinking  no  tea  that  paid  duty,  and  were  confident 
of  a  fupply  of  fuch ;  others  were  for  putting  every  dutied 
article  on  the  fame  footing,  as  wine,  &c. ;  but  others  con- 
fidered  wine  as  a  neceffary  of  life.  It  is  my  opinion  that  if 
the  merchants  who  viewed  this  meafure  of  importing  tea  in 
a  commercial  rather  than  in  a  political  light,  had  fhewn 
their  difapprobation  of  the  intended  oppofition  to  land  it,  by 
action  rather  than  by  a  refufal  to  fubfcribe  to  a  propofed 
affociation,  and  a  contempt  of  the  public  meetings  on  this 
occafion,  and  the  agents  of  the  Eaft  India  Company  had 
not  been  fo  hafty  in  their  declining  to  accept  their  trufts, 
all  might  have  gone  on  well,  according  to  the  plan  of  the 
Eaft  India  Company,  and  to  our  benefit  in  purchafing  that 
article,  now  become  one  of  the  neceffaries  of  life,  at  a  much 
cheaper  rate  than  at  prefent. 


342  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

COPY    OF   A    LETTER    FROM    MR.   JOHN    MORRIS, 

At  Charles   Town,  South  Carolina,  to  his  Brother, 

at  London. 

Charles  Town,  22d  Decr>   1773. 
Dear  Brother : 

Cap1-  Curling  arrived  here  the  2d  inft.,  with  257 
chefts  of  tea.  There  were  many  meetings  of  the  merchants 
and  planters,  but  by  the  refult  they  came  to  no  determina- 
tion ;  the  gentlemen  that  the  tea  was  configned  to  refufe 
receiving  it.  The  tea  ftaid  on  board  20  days.  We  then 
gave  the  captain  a  permit  to  land  it  by  funrife.  In  the 
morning  I  went  on  board,  and  called  the  captain  out  of  his 
bed,  begged  he  would  begin  to  get  the  tea  out  of  his  veffel. 
I  expected  that  he  would  not  have  been  permitted  to  land 
it,  but  we  immediately  got  fix  chefts  into  the  warehoufe,  and 
the  failors  hard  at  work  hoifting  out  the  reft.  We  began 
about  7  o'clock,  and  had  by  12  about  half  the  tea  in  the 
warehoufe,  and  the  reft  before  the  door.  There  was  not 
the  leaft  difturbance  ;  the  gentlemen  that  came  on  the  wharf 
behaved  with  their  ufual  complaifance  and  good  nature  to 
me,  and  I  believe  the  fame  to  the  reft  of  the  officers  that 
were  there.  I  thought  it  my  duty  to  exert  myfelf  on  this 
occafion,  which  I  did  with  great  pleafure,  (as  I  was  ferving 
my  old  mafters,)  as  well  as  doing  my  duty  as  a  revenue 
officer. 

I  am,  &c.,  &c., 

Corbyn  Morris,  Efqr"  JOHN   MORRIS. * 

Cuftom   Houfe. 

1  John  Morris,  Comptroller  of  Customs       November,  1775,  on  account  of  his  im- 
at  Charleston,    S.  C.,  was   permitted,    in      paired   health,  "  to   pass    and    repass   to 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  343 


LETTER   FROM   CAPT-    ELLIS, 
Of  the  New   York  Eftabli/hment,  to  the  Chairman. 

Cox  &  Mair's  Office,  4th  Feby- 

Sir: 

By  the  Englifh  papers  I  learn  you  are  fully  apprifed 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  people  of  Philadelphia  and  Bofton, 
and  the  refolves  of  the  New  Yorkers.  I  have,  notwithftand- 
ing,  fent  you  the  lateft  papers.  The  fhip  with  the  teas 
bound  to  Charles  Town,  is  made  the  property  of  the 
cuftoms,  having  neglected  the  ufual  forms  of  office  in  that 
port.  This  intelligence  I  had  by  a  fhip  from  Carolina  to 
New  York,  the  ifl  Jany-  and  may  be  depended  on.  I  left 
New  York  the  2d  ultimo ;  the  fhip  bound  to  that  port  was 
not  then  arrived. 

I  have  the  honor  to  be,  fir, 

Your  very  humble  fervant, 

J.  J.  ELLIS, 

1 8th  Regt. 


his  Island,"  during  the   pleasure  of  the      ships.     He  went  to   England,  and   died 
Provincial    Congress,    on    condition    of      there  in  1778. 
parole,  to  keep   away   from   the    King's 

33 


344  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


BOSTON. 
CASTLE  WILLIAM,  7th  Decr>>  1773. 

QUESTIONS    PROPOSED    BY    FRANCIS    ROTCH, 

AN  OWNER,  AND 
JAMES   HALL,  MASTER  OF  THE  SHIP  DARTMOUTH, 

Who  has  now  the  Tea  on  board,  confegned  to  MeJJrs.  Richard 
Clarke  &  Sons,  Mr.  Benjn  Faneuil,  Mejfrs.  Thos"  &  Elifha 
Hutchinson,  and  Mr.  Jojhua  Winflow,  with  the  Anfwers 
of  the  Conjignees,  except  Mr.  Win/low,  who  was  abfent. 
Referred  to  by  the  Conjignees  in  their  Letter  of  the  ftk 
Jan.,  1774. 

QUESTION  is-- 

By  Cap*-  Hall    and    F.  Rotch,  to    the   gentlemen,  confignees, 

in  writing : 

We  are  now  ready  to  deliver  the  tea,  and  beg  to  know  if 
you,  gentlemen,  are  ready  to  receive  it,  and  will  produce  the 
requifites  ufual  and  neceflary  to  the  landing  or  delivering 
the  faid  tea  alongfide  the  Ihip,  either  in  your  own  perfons 
or  by  your  agents  ? 

ANSWER. 

Gentlemen :  We  underftand  that  there  was  a  large  body 
of  people  affembled  in  Bofton  on  the  29th  &  3oth  November, 
who  voted  that  the  tea  fhipped  by  the  Eaft  India  Company, 
and  configned  to  us,  mould  not  be  landed ;  that  the  duty 
mould  not  be  paid,  and  that  the  tea  mould  be  returned  in 
the  fame  fhip  that  brought  it  out.  It  alfo  appears  by  the 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  345 

printed  proceedings  of  that  affembly,  that  you  confented  it 
fhould  go  back  in  your  fhip.  We  alfo  underftand  that 
there  is  continually  on  board  your  fhip  a  number  of  armed 
men,  to  prevent  it  being  landed.  We  therefore  judge  it 
out  of  our  power  to  receive  it  at  prefent,  but  when  it  mail 
appear  to  us  to  be  practicable,  we  will  give  the  neceffary 
orders  reflecting  it. 

QUESTION  2D- 

As  your  reply  to  our  firft  queflion,  gentn-'  appears  to  us 
not  to  the  point,  we  muft  and  do  demand  a  categorical 
anfwer  whether  you  will  or  will  not  immediately,  either  by 
yourfelves  or  your  order,  or  otherwife,  qualify  any  other 
perfon  or  perfons  to  receive  the  teas  configned  to  you  now 
on  board  our  fhip,  as  we  are  now  entirely  ready,  and  will, 
if  in  our  power,  deliver  the  faid  teas  immediately,  if  applica- 
tion is  made  ? 

ANSWER. 

Gentlemen :  It  appears  to  us  that  the  anfwer  we  have 
made  to  your  firft  queftion  is  a  full  reply  to  the  fecond. 

QUESTION  3"- 

As  you,  gentlemen,  by  the  tenor  of  your  firft  and  fecond 
reply,  refufe  to  give  us  a  direct:  anfwer  to  our  queftions, 
whether  you  will  or  will  not  receive  the  teas  mentioned 
therein,  we  now  demand  our  bill  of  lading  given  by  Cap1- 
Hall,  in  confequence  of  his  receiving  thofe  teas  on  board  in 
London  River,  and  the  amount  of  the  freight  of  the  faid 
tea,  fay  ninety-one  pounds  feven  fhillings  and  feven  pence 
lawful  money  ? 


34^  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ANSWER. 

Gentlemen :  We  fhall  not  deliver  up  Captain  Hall's  bill 
of  lading,  nor  pay  the  freight  of  the  teas  until  we  can  re- 
ceive them. 

[Copy.]  FRANCIS  ROTCH. 

JAMES  HALL. 

THOS-  &  ELISHA  HUTCHINSON. 
RICHARD  CLARKE  &  SONS. 
BENJN  FANEUIL,  JUNR- 


[Copy.]  AT  CASTLE  WILLIAM,  IN  NEW  ENGLAND, 

nth  Decr"  1773. 

QUESTIONS    PROPOSED    BY   JAMES    BRUCE, 

Mafter  of  the  Jhip  Eleanor,  burthen  about  250  tons,  now 
lying  in  the  harbour  of  Bojion,  in  New  England,  with 
part  of  her  cargo,  from  London,  confefting  of  one  hundred 
and  fourteen  chefts  of  tea,  confegned  to  Meffrs.  Richard 
Clarke  &  Sons,  Thos-  &  Eli/ha  Hutchinfon,  Benjn  Faneuil 
and  Jojhua  Win/low,  of  f aid  Bojlon,  Merchants. 

QUESTION  IST>  BY  CAP"  BRUCE,  TO  THE  CONSIGNEES  AFORESAID, 
IN  BEHALF  OF  HlMSELF  AND  OWNERS. 

Gentlemen :  I  am  now  ready  to  deliver  the  tea  configned 
to  you  on  board  my  fhip,  and  beg  to  know  if  you,  gentle- 
men, are  ready  and  willing  to  receive  it,  as  I  can  produce 
the  requifites  ufual  and  neceffary  for  landing  or  delivering 
the  faid  teas  alongfide  the  fhip,  either  by  yourfelves,  your 
agents  or  affigns ;  and  as  my  cargo  of  lumber  is  ready  for 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  347 

fliipping  on  difcharge  of  the  faid  tea,  I    demand  an  immedi- 
ate and  pofitive  anfwer  to  my  queflion. 

ANSWER. 

Sir:  It  appearing  by  the  printed  accounts  of  a  number 
of  people  affembled,  at  Bofton,  on  the  2Qth  and  3Oth  Novr- 
that  they  voted  the  teas  (hipped  by  the  Eaft  India  Company 
mould  not  be  landed,  but  that  they  mould  be  returned  to 
England  in  the  fame  bottoms  in  which  they  came.  And  it 
further  appearing  that  John  Rowe,  Efqr"  part  owner  of  the 
{hip  of  which  you  are  commander,  was  prefent  at  faid  meet- 
ing, and  did  promife  to  ufe  his  utmoft  endeavors  that  the 
teas  brought  in  your  veffel  mould  be  fent  back,  and  was  alfo 
chofen  one  of  a  com1-6  by  the  faid  meeting,  and  as  you  now 
tell  us  that  you  have  received  orders  from  certain  perfons, 
called  a  com1??  of  fafety,  not  to  land  any  part  of  faid  tea, 
and  that  a  number  of  armed  men  have  been  .and  ftill  are 
kept  aboard  or  near  your  veffel.  We  reply,  that  for  the 
reafons  mentioned,  we  think  it  at  prefent  out  of  our  power 
to  receive  the  teas,  but  that  as  foon  as  it  mail  appear 
practicable,  we  will  give  the  neceffary  orders  for  doing  it. 

2°  QUESTION. 

As  I  have  no  control  upon,  nor  influence  with,  the  peo- 
ple in  Bofton  who  may  oppofe  the  landing  of  the  teas,  I 
cannot  be  chargeable  with  their  conduct:.  My  bufmefs  is 
with  you,  gentlemen,  and  it  is  to  you  only  I  can  and  do 
make  application  for  directions  how  to  difpofe  of  the  faid 
teas,  and  you  will  oblige  me  and  my  owners,  and  I  defire 
you  would  let  me  know  whether  you  will  or  will  not  receive 
or  difpofe  of  the  faid  tea,  either  on  more  or  otherwife  ? 


348  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

ANSWER. 

As  we  fee  nothing  in  your  fecond  queftion  effentially 
different  from  your  firft,  we  muft  refer  you  to  our  anfwer 
already  given. 

3*?  QUESTION. 

Will  you,  gentlemen,  or  either  of  you,  deliver  the  bills  of 
lading,  which  I  figned  for  faid  tea  at  London,  and  pay  me 
the  freight  for  bringing  it  to  Bofton  ? 

ANSWER. 

Sir :  We  will  not  deliver  the  bills  of  lading,  nor  pay  the 
freight  of  the  teas,  until  we  can  receive  them. 

[Copy.]  JAS.  BRUCE. 

RICHD  CLARKE  &  SONS. 
THOS<  &  ELISHA  HUTCHINSOK 
Witnefs:  BENJN  FANEUIL,  Junn 

Signed,  JN°-   MUNRO,  Not.  Pub. 


PROTEST. 

Cap1'  James  Bruce,  of  the  Eleanor,  againjl  the  Conjignees,  for 
refufeng  to  receive  the  teas  at  Bofton,  in  New  England,  on 
the  IIth  day  of  December,  1773,  and  in  the  fourteenth  year 
of  His  Majeftys  reign. 

Perfonally  appeared  before  me,  John  Monro,  Notary  Pub- 
lic, by  royal  authority,  duly  admitted  and  fworn.  James 
Bruce,  mafter  of  the  fhip  Eleanor,  burthen  about  two 
hundred  and  fifty  tons,  then  lying  at  Griffin's  wharf,  with 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  349 

part  of  her  cargo  from  London  on  board,  amongft  which 
were  eighty  whole  and  thirty-four  half  chefts  of  tea,  con* 
figned  to  Meffrs.  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  Thomas  &  Elifha 
Hutchinfon,  Benjamin  Faneuil,  and  Jofhua  Winflow,  of  faid 
Bofton,  merchants.  And  the  faid  James  Bruce,  having 
requeued  me,  the  faid  Notary  Public,  to  attend  him  to 
Caftle  William,  in  the  harbour  of  faid  Bofton,  we  went  on 
the  faid  day,  and  then  and  there,  the  annexed  queftions  and 
anfwers  were  entered.  Written  queftions  were  put  by  the 
faid  James  Bruce,  and  the  refpective  anfwers  were  made  in 
writing  (alfo  annexed)  by  the  confignees  then  prefent,  and 
in  my  prefence,  and  in  the  prefence  of  each  other,  inter- 
changeably fubfcribed  and  delivered  by  the  faid  James 
Bruce  and  the  faid  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  Thomas  and 
Elifha  Hutchinfon,  and  Benjamin  Faneuil,  and  declared  by 
them  to  be  their  fentiments  and  determinations. 

Wherefore,  the  faid  James  Bruce,  on  behalf  of  himfelf, 
and  all  others  concerned,  did,  and  I,  the  faid  Notary  Public 
at  his  requeft,  and  on  behalf  as  aforefaid,  do  by  thefe  pref- 
ents,  folemnly  protefl  againft  the  faid  confignees,  and  fuch 
of  them  aforefaid,  for  all  and  all  manner  of  damages  what- 
foever,  already  fuffered,  and  which  may,  can  or  fhall  be 
fuffered,  by  their  neglecting  and  refufmg  to  receive,  demand 
and  take  poffeffion  of  the  tea  aforefaid,  agreeable  to  his  re- 
queft, made  and  written,  and  annexed  to  thefe  prefents. 

Thus  done,  protefted  and  given  under  my  notarial  feal  of 
office,  in  prefence  of  Robert  Garland  Cranch  and  John 
Dyer. 

In  teftimoniam  veritas, 

Signed,  Signed,         JN°    MONRO, 

JAS.  BRUCE.    G\  Not.  Pub.,   nth  Jany-   1774. 


35°  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 


LETTER  FROM  MR.  ROTCH  TO  THE 
CONSIGNEES, 

Referred  to  in  their  Letter  of  the  8th  of  Jany '  1774. 

Bofton,  6th  Jany"   1774. 
Gentlemen  : 

Annexed  you  have  an  account  of  the  freight  of  80 
whole  and  34  half  chefts  of  tea,  (hipped  by  the  Hon'ble 
Eaft  India  Company,  on  our  fhip  Dartmouth,  James  Hall, 
mafter,  from  London,  configned  to  you,  with  the  damages 
we  have  fuftained  by  the  faid  tea  being  kept  in  our  fhip  by 
your  not  giving  the  neceffary  orders  or  directions  about  it, 
or  by  your  not  qualifying  yourfelves,  or  otherwife,  for  receiv- 
ing the  fame. 

The  charge  of  demurrage  of  the  fhip,  &c.,  may  poffibly  at 
firfl  fight  appear  extravagant,  but  when  you  confider  the 
confequences  of  a  fhip  regularly  eftablifhed  in  any  trade, 
(which,  in  the  prefent  cafe  will,  I  expect,  eventually  be  of 
near  two  hundred  guineas  damage,)  by  the  lofs  of  freight 
from  London  in  the  fpring,  when  you  confider  this,  with 
the  extra  lofs  on  a  perifhable  commodity,  as  hers  was  of 
oil,  the  extra  ftowage  of  three-quarters  of  that  cargo,  and  the 
difference  of  advance  of  the  feafon,  I  cannot  but  think  you 
mufl  be  reconciled  to  the  propriety  of  the  charges  I  have 
made. 

I  enclofe  you  a  copy  of  Cap*-  Cooke's  and  our  cooper's 
requefts,  to  fupport  the  charges  of  demurrage  of  the  floop 
Triton,  and  the  wages  and  expences  of  thofe  coopers,  and 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  351 

beg  to  know  by  the  bearer  (who  will  wait  your  anfwer) 
whether  you  will  or  will  not  pay  the  amount  of  this  account, 
fay  ^289  195.  6d.  lawful  money. 

I   am,  very  refpeclfully, 

Your  affured  friend, 

FRANCIS  ROTCH. 
To  RICHARD  CLARKE  &  SONS, 
THOS.  &  ELISHA  HUTCHINSON, 
BENJAMIN  FANEUIL,  Junr.,  and 
JOSHUA  WINSLOW. 


Owners,  Skippers,  Confegnees,  or  concerned  in  80  whole  and 
34  half  chefts  of  Teas,  fhipped  from  London  by  the  Honblc 
Eajl  India  Company,  for  Bofton,  conjigned  to  Richard 
Clarke  &  Sons,  Thomas  &  Elifha  Hutchinfon,  Benjn 
Faneuil,  Junr"  and  Jojhua  Win/low. 

To  the  Owners  of  the  Dartmouth,  JAMES   HALL,  Dr. 

1773- 
To  freight  of   80  whole  and    34   half   chefts  of 

tea  from  London,  ....   ^"91    17    7 

To  demurrage  of  the  fhip   from   7  to    20  Decr> 

13  days. 
Deduct  2  days  for  gravs  the  fhip,  2  days,  1 1   at 

;£i2,         .  .  .  .  .  .     132     Q    o 

To  Cap1-  James   Hall,  and  his  mate's  wages,   1 1 

days,  3   18     3 

To  demurrage  floop  Triton,  from  9  to  20  Decr-> 

12  days,  at  485.,  .  .  .  28   16    o 

39 


35 2  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

To  the  captain's  wages,  6  days,  .  .  12    o 

To  the  mate's  and  4  hands'  wages  and  victuals, 

12  days  each,     .  .  .  .  .79    8J 

To  Jas.  Smith  and  2  journeymen  coopers  from 

Dartmouth,  their   wages    and    expences   from 

7th  to  20th  December,   13  days,  at  6s.,  .       u    14    o 

To   cam    paid    Samfon,    S.    Blowers,1  and    John 

Adams,  Efqr>s  advice,     .  ...  .         740 

To  wharfage  the    fhip    and    (loop,    23    days,    at 

6s.  8d.  per  week,  .  .  .  .120 

To    cam    paid    for    Protefts,    &c.,    £$    195.    6d. 

flerling,  .  .  .  .  .  .560 


,£289   19    6 
Bofton,  31"  December,   1773. 

Errors  excepted. 
In  behalf  of  myfelf  and  the  owners  of  the  fhip. 

FRANCIS  ROTCH. 


1  Sampson    Salter    Blowers,    a   distin-  of  the    nduse  ;     Chief   Justke    of    the 

guished   lawyer  and  jurist,  a  native   of  Supreme    Court,  and   a  member  of  the 

Boston,    and    a    graduate    of     Harvard  Council,  retiring  from  public  life  in  1833. 

College,  (1763,)  was,  in  1778,  proscribed  Judge  Blowers  was  born  March  22,  1742, 

and   banished   as  a   loyalist.      In    1770,  and  died   in   Halifax,  N.S.,  October  25, 

he    was    associated    with    John    Adams  1842,  being  over  one   hundred  years  of 

and    Josiah    Quincy    in    behalf    of    the  age.      The  fact  that   he   never  wore  an 

British   soldiers   who  were  on   trial  for  overcoat   in    his   life,   told   us    on  good 

their  agency   in  the   Boston    Massacre.  authority,  does  not  satisfactorily  account 

He  settled  in  Halifax,  N.S. ;  became  sue-  for  his  great  longevity, 
cessively  Attorney-General  and  Speaker 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  353 


PROTEST. 

Mr.  Francis  Rotch,  Pardon  Cook,  and  Wm.  Hayden,  againjl 
Conjignees  and  Tea,  at  Bofton,  in  New  England,  on  the 
ioth  day  of  December,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  1773,  and 
in  the  fourteenth  year  of  His  Majeftys  reign. 

Perfonally  appeared  before  me,  John  Monro,  Notary 
Public  by  royal  authority,  duly  admitted  and  fworn,  Pardon 
Cook,  mafter,  and  Wm.  Hayden,  mate  of  the  floop  Triton, 
burthen  about  feventy-five  tons,  and  Francis  Rotch,  one  of 
the  owners  of  the  faid  floop,  and  they,  the  faid  Pardon, 
Will1?.-  and  Francis,  being  by  the  people  called  Quakers, 
folemnly  affirmed,  and  each  of  them  for  himfelf,  doth  affirm 
in  manner  following,  that  is  to  fay,  the  faid  Pardon  and 
William  affirm  and  fay  they  failed  from  Dartmouth,  in 
New  England,  with  the  faid  veffel,  on  the  28th  day  of  laft 
month,  then  loaded  with  fpermaceti  oil,  and  bound  for  faid 
Bofton,  where  they  arrived  on  the  8th  inft.,  and  made  appli- 
cation to  the  faid  Francis  to  have  the  faid  cargo  difcharged 
on  -board  the  fhip  Dartmouth,  as  agreeable  to  their  orders 
and  directions.  And  the  faid  Francis  Rotch  affirms  that 
he  could  not  in  perfon,  nor  by  his  fervants,  or  any  other, 
unload  and  refhip  the  faid  cargo  of  oil  on  board  the  fhip 
aforefaid  by  reafon  of  her  not  being  cleared  of  a  certain 
quantity  of  teas  fhipped  at  London,  and  configned  to  Meffrs. 
Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  Thomas  and  Elifha  Hutchinfon, 
Benjn  Faneuil  and  Jofhua  Winflow,  of  faid  Bofton,  merchants, 
who  have  all  and  each  of  them,  except  Jofhua  Winflow, 
neglected  to  demand  and  refufed  to  accept  the  faid  teas,  by 


354  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

which  the  faid  fliip  is  detained  in  the  harbour  of  faid  Bofton, 
and  unfit  to  receive  the  faid  oil  as  intended  by  the  faid 
owner,  mafter  and  mate ;  wherefore,  the  faid  Francis  Rotch, 
and  the  mafter  aforefaid,  did,  on  behalf  of  themfelves  and  all 
others  concerned,  and  I,  the  faid  Notary  Public,  at  their 
requeft,  and  on  behalf  aforefaid,  do  by  thefe  prefents  folemnly 
proteft  againft  the  faid  confignees,  and  each  of  them,  and 
againft  the  faid  tea,  and  againft  all  others  concerned,  for  all 
and  all  manner  of  damages  already  fuffered,  and  to  be 
fuffered,  on  account  of  the  faid  oils  not  being  {hipped  as 
aforefaid,  contrary  to  the  intention  and  ftri6l  meaning  of  the 
faid  owner  and  mafter,  &c. 

Thus  done,  protefted,  and  given  under  my  notarial  feal  of 
office,  in  prefence  of  Robert  Garland  Cranch  and  John 
Dyar. 

In  teftimoniam  veritas, 

JN°-   MONRO, 

Not.  Pub.,   ii   Jan.,   1774. 
FRANCIS  ROTCH. 
PARDON  COOK. 
WM.   HAYDEN. 


PROTEST. 

Cap1-  James  Bruce,  of  the  Eleanor,  againft  the  Committee  at 
Bofton,  and  others,  who  Prevented  the  Landing  the   Teas. 

At  Bofton,  in  New  England,  on  the  nth  day  of  Decemr> 
in  the  year  of  Our  Lord  1773,  and  in  the  14th  year  of  his 
Majefty's  reign,  perfonally  appeared  before  me,  John  Monro, 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  355 

Notary  Public  by  royal  authority,  duly  admitted  and  fworn, 
James  Bruce,  matter  of  the  fhip  Eleanor,  burthen  about  250 
tons,  and  he  being  fworn  on  the  Holy  Evangelifts  of  Al- 
mighty God,  depofed  and  doth  depofe  and  fay,  that  on  the 
Ist  day  of  this  inftant  Decemr-  he  arrived  with  the  faid  fhip 
at  Boflon  aforefaid,  then  loaded  with  fundry  goods  or  mer- 
chandize from  London,  amongft  which  were  84  whole  and 
34  half  chefls  of  tea,  configned  to  Meffrs.  Richard  Clarke  & 
Sons,  Thos-  and  Elifha  Hutchinfon,  Benjamin  Faneuil  and 
Jofhua  Winflow  of  Bofton,  merchants,  that  on  the  2d  inft., 
the  deponent  was  ordered  to  attend  at  1 1  o'clock  in  the 
forenoon  of  the  next  day,  on  a  committee  of  the  people  of 
the  faid  town,  and  he  having  attended  accordingly,  was  then 
and  there  commanded  by  Mr.  Samuel  Adams  and  Jonathan 
Williams,  Efqr"  in  prefence  of,  and  affembled  with,  John 
Rowe,  John  Hancock,  Wm.  Phillips  and  John  Pitts,  Efqr?.- 
and  a  great  number  of  others,  in  Faneuil  Hall,  not  to  land 
any  of  the  faid  tea  at  his  peril,  but  to  proceed  to  Griffin's 
wharf,  in  faid  Bofton,  and  there  difcharge  the  reft  of  his 
cargo.  And  that  the  faid  deponent  was  obliged  to  comply 
with  the  faid  orders,  and  was  and  is  nightly  watched  by  25 
armed  men  on  board  the  faid  fhip,  appointed,  as  he  fuppofes 
and  verily  believes,  to  prevent  the  faid  teas  from  being 
landed. 

Wherefore,  the  faid  James  Bruce,  on  behalf  of  himfelf  and 
all  others  concerned  in  the  faid  fhip  or  cargo,  did,  and  I, 
the  faid  notary  public,  at  his  requeft,  and  on  behalf  as  afore- 
faid, do  by  thefe  prefents  folemnly  proteft  againft  the  faid 
committee  and  each  of  them  above  mentioned,  and  againft 
all  others  voluntarily  acting,  watching,  and  proceeding  by 
their  directions,  and  all  perfons  whatfoever  oppofmg  and 


356  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

forbidding  the  landing  the  tea  aforefaid  for  all,  and  all 
manner  of  damage  and  damages  fuffered  and  to  be  fuffered, 
by  means  of  the  commands,  watchings,  oppofition  and  pro- 
hibition aforefaid.  Thus  done,  protefled,  and  given  under 
my  notarial  feal,  in  the  prefence  of  Rob1-  Garland  Cranch 
and  John  Dyar. 

In  teftimoniam  veritas, 

JN°    MONRO; 

TJ  /~\  Not.  Pub.,   ii    Tan.,   1774. 

JAMES  BRUCE.      (L.S.J 


PROTEST   OF   CAPT    JAMES    BRUCE,1 

Of  the  Eleanor,  again/I  the  Deftroyers  of  the   Tea. 

At  Bofton,  in  New  England,  on  the  1 7th  day  of  December, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1773,  and  in  the  14th  year  of  his 
Majefty's  reign,  perfonally  appeared  before  me,  John  Monro, 
Notary  Public  by  royal  authority,  duly  admitted  and  fworn, 
James  Bruce,  mafter,  Jas-  Bruce,  junr-'  mate,  and  John  Tinney, 
boatfwain,  of  the  fhip  Eleanor,  burthen  about  250  tons,  and 
the  faid  James  Bruce,  junr-'  and  John  Tinney,  being  fworn 
on  the  Holy  Evangelifts  of  Almighty  God,  feverally  depofed, 
and  each  of  them  doth  depofe  and  fay,  that  on  the  evening 
of  the  1 6th  inft.,  they,  thefe  deponents,  were  on  board  the 
faid  fhip,  then  lying  at  Griffin's  wharf,  at  faid  Bofton,  and 
part  of  her  cargo  from  London  on  board,  amongft  which 

1  Captain    Bruce    was    a    loyalist    of      name    was    living    at    Shelburne,    N.  S., 
Boston,    and    as    such    was    proscribed      about  the  year  1805.  —  Sabine. 
and  banished.      A  loyalist  of  the  same 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS  357 

were  80  whole  chefts  and  34  half  chefts  of  tea,  configned  to 
Meffrs.  Richd  Clarke  &  Sons,  Thos-  and  Elifha  Hutchinfon, 
Benj"  Faneuil,  and  Jofhua  Window,  of  faid  Bofton,  mer- 
chants. That  about  the  hours  of  6  or  7  o'clock  in  the 
fame  evening,  about  one  thoufand  unknown  people  came 
down  the  faid  wharf,  and  a  number  of  them  came  on  board 
the  faid  fhip,  fome  being  dreffed  like  Indians,  and  they  hav- 
ing violently  broke  open  the  hatches,  hoifted  up  the  faid 
chefts  of  tea  upon  deck,  and  then  and  there  ftove  and  threw 
the  faid  chefts  with  their  contents  overboard  into  the  water, 
where  the  whole  was  loft  and  deftroyed.  Wherefore,  the 
faid  James  Bruce,  mafter  of  the  faid  fhip,  on  behalf  of  him- 
felf  and  owners  of  the  faid  fhip,  and  all  others  concerned, 
did,  and  I,  the  faid  notary  public,  at  his  requeft,  and  on 
behalf  as  aforefaid,  do  by  thefe  prefents  folemnly  proteft 
againft  the  faid  unknown  perfons  or  people,  and  againft  all 
others  whatfoever  and  however  concerned,  for  all  and  all 
manner  of  damage  or  damages  already  fuffered,  and  which 
hereafter  may,  can,  or  (hall  be  fuffered  by  the  violence  and 
proceedings  of  the  faid  unknown  people,  and  the  deftruction 
of  the  tea  as  aforefaid. 

Thus  done,  protefted,  and  given  under  my  notarial  feal  of 
office,  in  prefence  of  Robert  Garland  Cranch  and  John 
Dyar. 

In  teftimoniam  veritas, 

(Signed,) 

JN°-  MONRO, 

Not.  Pub.,  ii  Jan.,  1774. 
JAMES  BRUCE. 

JAMES  BRUCE,  Junr- 
JOHN  X  TINNEY. 

J      mark. 


358  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Cap1-  Hezekiah  Coffin,1  Mailer  Jethro  Coffin,  mate,  and 
Mr.  Wm.  Hewkey,  mariner,  of  the  brig  Beaver,  and  Mr. 
Francis  Rotch,  part  owner,  James  Hall,  mafter,  and  Alexr 
Hodgdon,  mate  of  the  Dartmouth,  made  the  like  proteft, 
which  are  among  the  American  papers. 


LETTER   FROM    THE   AGENTS    AT    NEW    YORK, 
TO    CAPT    LOCKYER, 

Referred  to  in  their  Letter  of  the  2fh  Decr-'  1773. 

New  York,  Decr  27,   1773. 

Sir: 

It  is  our  intention  that  this  letter  mould  meet  you 
below,  at  the  Hook,  that  you  may  be  apprifed  of  the  danger 
of  bringing  your  fhip  into  this  port. 

All  the  tea  fhipped  by  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company 
to  Bofton  has  been  dellroyed  on  board  the  veffels  that 
brought  it.  The  fhip  Polly,  Cap*-  Ayres,  arrived  lately  at 
Philadelphia  with  the  tea  deftined  for  that  port,  and  was 
compelled  to  return  with  it  without  being  fuffered  to  come 
into  the  harbour,  and  there  are  advices  in  town  that  Charles 
Town  has  made  the  fame  determination  with  refpedl  to  the 
tea  arrived  at  South  Carolina,  and  you  may  be  affured  the 
inhabitants  of  this  city  have  adopted  the  fame  fentiments, 
and  are  fully  determined  to  carry  them  into  execution. 

1  Captain  Hezekiah  Coffin,  of  Nan-  from  the  destruction  of  his  cargo,  tea 
tucket,  married  Abigail  Colman,  and  enough  to  enable  him  to  purchase  a  set 
died  in  1779.  It  is  said  that  he  saved  of  silver  spoons. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  359 

We  therefore  think  it  is  a  duty  we  owe  to  the  faid  Com- 
pany, as  we  can  neither  receive  the  tea  or  pay  the  duty,  to 
apprize  you  of  your  danger,  and  to  give  you  our  opinion, 
that  for  the  fafety  of  your  cargo,  your  veffel,  and  your  per- 
fons,  it  will  be  moft  prudent  for  you  to  return,  as  foon  as 
you  can  be  fupplied  with  fuch  neceffaries  as  you  may  have 
occafion  for  on  the  voyage.  Certain  we  are  that  you  would 
fully  concur  with  us  in  the  propriety  of  this  advice  were 
you  as  well  acquainted  with  the  people's  fentiments  as  we 
are,  which  you  will  learn  from  the  enclofed  papers.  We 
mail  be  glad  to  hear  from  you  in  anfwer  hereto,  and  to 
render  you  any  fervices  we  can  in  your  critical  fituation. 

We  are,  your  moft  obd1  fervts> 

HENRY  WHITE, 
ABRAHAM  LOTT  &  Co. 
PIGOU  &  BOOTH. 

To  Cap1'   Benjn  Lockyer,  of  the  fhip  Nancy. 


LETTER  FROM  CAPT-  LOCKYER  TO  THE  AGENTS, 
TENDERING   THE   CARGO, 

With  their  Reply,  referred  to  in  their  Letter  of 
the  22d>  April,  1774. 

New  York,  April  2oth>   1774. 
Gentlemen : 

Having  confidered    the    circumftances    mentioned  in 
your  letters,  which  I  received  on  my  arrival,  I  have  left  the 
40 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

fhip  and  cargo  at  Sandy  Hook,  for  their  fafety.  Have  now 
waited  on  you  with  a  tender  of  the  cargo  of  tea  fhipped  by 
the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company,  and  configned  to  you.  I 
am  therefore  ready  to  deliver  the  faid  cargo  according  to 
the  bill  of  lading.  I  am,  &c., 

BENJAMIN  LOCKYER. 
Meffrs.  White,  Lott  &  Booth. 


New  York,  April  20,   1774. 
Sir: 

We  have  received  your  letter  of  this  date,  tender- 
ing to  us  the  cargo  of  tea  fhipped  on  board  the  Nancy, 
under  your  command,  by  the  Hon'ble  Eaft  India  Company, 
to  our  addrefs,  in  reply  to  which  we  have  only  to  obferve 
that  we  fome  time  ago  acquainted  the  Hon'ble  Court  of 
Directors  how  violently  oppofed  the  inhabitants  in  general 
were  to  the  landing  or  vending  the  tea  in  this  Colony,  while 
fubjecl  to  the  American  duty,  and  that  any  attempts  in  us, 
either  to  effect  one  or  the  other  would  not  only  be  fruit- 
lefs,  but  expofe  fo  confiderable  a  property  to  inevitable 
deftruction.  Under  thefe  circumftances  it  would  be  highly 
imprudent  in  us  to  take  any  fteps  to  receive  your  cargo, 
and  therefore  we  cannot  take  charge  of  the  fame,  or  any 
part  thereof,  under  our  cafe.  We  are,  fir, 

Your  moft  obed1  fervts> 

HENRY  WHITE. 
ABRM  LOTT  &  Co. 
PIGOU  &  BOOTH. 
Cap1-   Benjn  Lockyer. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  361 

PHILADELPHIA. 

AN    ACCOUNT   OF   THE    PROCEEDINGS    OF   THE 
INHABITANTS    OF    PHILADELPHIA, 

On  the  Meafure  of  the  Company's  Exporting  Tea  to  that  Place. 

[  Taken  from  a  Philadelphia  news  paper.  ] 

Monday'  Decr  27,   1773. 

Upon  the  firft  advice  of  this  meafure  a  general  dif- 
fatifaclion  was  expreffed,  that  at  a  time  when  we  were 
ftruggling  with  this  oppreffive  act,  and  an  agreement  fubfift- 
ing  not  to  import  tea  while  fubject  to  the  duty,  our  fellow 
fubjecls  in  England  fhould  form  a  meafure  fo  directly  tend- 
ing to  enforce  the  Ac!;,  and  again  embroil  us  with  our 
parent  flate.  When  it  was  alfo  confidered  that  the  propofed 
mode  of  difpofmg  of  the  tea  tended  to  a  monopoly,  ever 
odious  in  a  free  country,  a  univerfal  difapprobation  mewed 
itfelf  through  the  city.  A  public  meeting  of  the  inhabitants 
was  held  at  the  State  Houfe,  on  the  i8th  October,  at  which 
great  nnmbers  attended,  and  the  fenfe  of  the  following 
refolves  (which  are  entered  in  page  296,  the  people  of  Bofton 
having  formed  the  fame  refolutions). 

In  confequence  of  thefe  refolutions,  a  committee  waited 
upon  the  gentlemen  in  this  city  who  had  been  appointed 
confignees  of  the  expected  cargo.  They  reprefented  to 
them  the  deteftation  and  abhorrence  in  which  this  meafure 
was  held  by  their  fellow  citizens,  the  danger  and  difficulties 
which  muft  attend  the  execution  of  fo  odious  a  tafk,  and 


362  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

expreffed  the  united  defire  of  the  city  that  they  would 
renounce  the  commiffion,  and  engage  not  to  intermeddle 
with  the  (hip  or  cargo  in  any  fhape  whatever.  Some  of 
the  commiffioners  refigned  in  a  manner  that  gave  general 
fatisfaction,  others  in  fuch  equivocal  terms  as  defired  further 
explanation.  However,  in  a  few  days  the  refignation  was 
complete.  In  this  fituation  things  remained  for  a  few  days. 

In  the  mean  time  the  general  fpirit  and  indignation  rofe 
to  fuch  a  height  that  it  was  thought  proper  to  call  another 
general  meeting  of  the  principal  citizens  to  confider  and 
refolve  upon  fuch  further  fteps  as  might  give  weight  and 
fecure  fuccefs  to  the  unanimous  oppofition  now  formed. 
Accordingly  a  meeting  was  held  for  the  above  purpofe,  at 
which  a  great  number  of  refpeclable  inhabitants  attended, 
and  it  appeared  to  be  the  unanimous  opinion  that  the  entry 
of  the  fhip  at  the  cuftorn  houfe,  or  the  landing  any  part  of 
her  cargo  would  be  attended  with  great  danger  and  difficulty, 
and  would  directly  tend  to  deftroy  that  peace  and  good 
order  which  ought  to  be  preferved.  An  addition  of  twelve 
other  gentlemen  was  then  made  to  the  former  committee, 
and  the  general  meeting  adjourned  'till  the  arrival  of  the 
tea-fhip.  Information  being  given  of  that,  the  price  of  tea 
was  foon  advanced,  though  this  was  owing  to  a  general 
fcarcity  of  that  article,  yet  all  the  poffeffors  of  tea,  in  order 
to  give  ftrength  to  the  oppofition,  readily  agreed  to  reduce 
the  price  and  fell  what  remained  in  their  hands  at  a  reafon- 
able  rate. 

Nothing  now  remained  but  to  keep  up  a  proper  corre- 
fpondence  and  connection  with  the  other  Colonies,  and  to 
take  all  prudent  and  proper  precautions  on  the  arrival  of 
the  tea-fhip. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  363 

It  is  not  eafy  to  defcribe  the  anxiety  and  fufpense  of  the 
city  in  this  interval ;  fundry  reports  of  her  arrival  were 
received,  which  were  premature,  but  on  Saturday  evening 
laft  an  exprefs  came  up  from  Chefter  to  inform  the  town 
that  the  tea-fhip,  commanded  by  Cap1-  Ayres,  with  her 
detefted  cargo,  was  arrived  there,  having  followed  another 
fhip  up  the  river  fo  far.  The  committee  met  early  the 
next  morning,  and  being  apprized  of  the  arrival  of  Mr. 
Gilbert  Barkley,  the  other  confignee,  who  came  paffenger 
in  the  fhip,  they  immediately  went  in  a  body  to  requeft 
his  renunciation  of  the  commiffion.  Mr.  Barkley  politely 
attended  the  committee  at  the  firft  requeft,  and  being  made 
acquainted  with  the  fentiments  of  the  city,  and  the  danger 
to  which  the  public  liberties  of  America  were  expofed  by 
this  meafure,  he,  after  expreffmg  the  particular  hardfhip  of 
his  fituation,  alfo  refigned  the  commiffion  in  a  manner  that 
affe6ted  every  one  prefent. 

The  committee  then  appointed  three  of  their  members  to 
go  to  Chefter,  and  two  others  to  Gloucefter  Point,  in  order 
to  have  the  earlieft  opportunity  of  meeting  Cap1-  Ayres,  and 
representing  to  him  the  fenfe  of  the  public  refpecling  his 
voyage  and  cargo.  The  gentlemen  who  had  fet  out  for 
Chefter  receiving  intelligence  that  the  veffel  had  weighed 
anchor  about  12  o'clock,  and  proceeded  to  town,  returned. 
About  2  o'clock  fhe  appeared  in  fight  of  Gloucefter  Point, 
where  a  number  of  the  inhabitants  from  the  town  had  af- 
fembled,  with  the  gentlemen  from  the  committee,  and  as  fhe 
paffed  along  fhe  was  hailed,  and  the  captain  requefted  not 
to  proceed  further,  but  to  come  on  more.  This  the  captain 
complied  with,  and  was  handed  thro'  a  lane  made  by  the 
people  to  the  gentlemen  appointed  to  confer  with  him. 


364  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

They  reprefented  to  him  the  general  fentiment,  together 
with  the  danger  and  difficulties  that  would  attend  his  refufal 
to  comply  with  the  willies  of  the  inhabitants,  and  finally 
defired  him  to  proceed  with  them  to  town,  where  he  would 
be  more  fully  informed  of  the  temper  and  refolution  of  the 
people.  He  was  accordingly  accompanied  to  town  by  a 
number  of  perfons,  where  he  was  foon  convinced  of  the 
truth  and  propriety  of  the  reprefentations  that  had  been 
made  to  him,  and  agreed  that,  upon  the  defire  of  the  in- 
habitants being  publicly  expreffed,  he  would  conduct  himfelf 
accordingly.  Some  fmall  rudenefs  being  offered  to  the  cap*- 
afterwards  in  the  ftreet  by  fome  boys,  feveral  gentlemen 
interpofed  and  fuppreffed  it,  before  he  received  the  leaft 
injury.  Upon  an  hour's  notice  this  morning,  a  public  meet- 
ing was  called,  and  the  State  Houfe  not  being  fufficient  to 
hold  the  numbers  affembled,  they  adjourned  into  the  fquare. 
This  meeting  is  allowed  by  all  to  be  the  moft  refpectable, 
both  in  number  and  rank  of  thofe  who  attended,  it  that  has 
been  known  in  this  city.  After  a  fhort  introduction,  the 
following  refolutions  were  not  only  agreed  to,  but  the  public 
approbation  teftified  in  the  warmeft  manner : 

Refolved  ist-  That  the  tea  on  board  the  fhip  Polly,  Cap1' 
Ayres,  mail  not  be  landed. 

2d-  That  Cap1-  Ayres  mail  neither  enter  nor  report  his 
veffel  at  the  Cuftom  Houfe. 

3d-     That  Cap1-  Ayres  mall  carry  back  the  tea  immediately. 

4th-  That  Cap'-  Ayres  mail  immediately  fend  a  pilot  on 
board  his  veffel,  with  orders  to  take  charge  of  her,  and  pro- 
ceed with  her  to  Reedy  Ifland,  next  high  water. 

5th-  That  he  mail  be  allowed  to  flay  in  town  'till  to- 
morrow, to  provide  neceffaries  for  his  voyage. 


LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS.  365 

6th  That  he  mall  then  be  obliged  to  leave  the  town  and 
proceed  to  his  veffel,  and  make  the  befl  of  his  way  out  of 
our  river  and  bay. 

7th-  That  Cap1-  Heyfham,  Cap1-  R.  White,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Loxley  and  Mr.  A.  Donaldfon  be  a  committee  to  fee  thefe 
refolutions  carried  into  execution. 

The  captain  was  then  afked  if  he  would  conform  himfelf 
to  thefe  refolutions.  He  anfwered  that  he  would. 

The  affembly  were  then  informed  of  the  fpirit  and  refo- 
lution  of  New  York,  Charles  Town,  South  Carolina,  and  the 
conduct  of  the  people  in  Bofton,  whereupon  it  was  unani- 
moufly  refolved : 

8th-  That  this  affembly  highly  approve  of  the  conduct  and 
fpirit  of  the  people  of  New  York,  Charles  Town  and  Bofton, 
and  return  their  hearty  thanks  to  the  people  at  Bofton  for 
their  refolution  in  deftroying  the  tea  rather  than  fuffer  it  to 
be  landed. 

The  whole  bufmefs  was  conducted  with  a  decorum  and 
order  worthy  the  importance  of  the  caufe.  Cap1-  Ayres 
being  prefent  at  this  meeting,  folemnly  and  publicly  engaged 
that  he  would  literally  comply  with  the  fenfe  of  the  city,  as 
expreffed  in  the  above  refolutions. 

A  proper  fupply  of  neceffaries  and  frefh  provifions  being 
then  procured  in  about  2  hours,  the  tea-fhip  weighed  anchor 
from  Gloucefter  Point,  where  me  lay  within  fight  of  the 
town,  and  proceeded  with  her  whole  cargo  on  her  return  to 
the  Eaft  India  Comy- 

The  public  think  the  conduct  of  thofe  gentlemen  whofe 
goods  are  returned  on  board  the  tea-fhip,  ought  not  to  pafs 
unnoticed,  as  they  have  upon  this  occafion  generoully  facri- 
ficed  their  private  intereft  to  the  public  good. 


366  LETTERS     AND     DOCUMENTS. 

Thus  this  important  affair,  in  which  there  has  been  fo 
glorious  an  exertion  of  public  virtue  and  fpirit,  has  been 
brought  to  a  public  iffue,  by  which  the  force  of  law,  fo 
obftinately  perfifted  in,  to  the  prejudice  of  the  national  com- 
merce, for  the  fake  of  the  principle  on  which  it  is  founded, 
(a  right  of  taxing  the  Americans  without  their  confent,)  has 
been  effectually  broken,  and  the  foundation  of  American 
liberty  more  deeply  laid  than  ever. 

N.  B. —  It  was  computed  by  two  different  perfons,  un- 
known to  each  other,  that  there  were  8000  perfons  affembled, 
befides  many  hundreds  who  were  on  their  way,  but  did  not 
reach  the  meeting  in  time,  owing  to  the  fhortnefs  of  the 
notice.  Capl<  Ayres  and  Mr.  Barkley,  late  one  of  the  con- 
fignees,  left  Arch  wharf  on  board  a  pilot  boat  (having  been 
46  hours  in  town,)  to  follow  the  (hip  to  Reedy  Ifland.  They 
were  attended  to  the  wharf  by  a  concourfe  of  people,  who 
wifhed  them  a  good  voyage. 


FINIS. 


ADDITIONS. 


JOHN   SPURR   (see  /.   164). 

John  Spurr  was,  after  the  Revolution,  a  prominent  citizen 
of  Charlton,  Mass.,  and  often  represented  the  town  in  the 
State  Legislature.  He  married  the  daughter  of  Rev.  Elijah 
Dunbar,  and  left  two  sons  ;  Elijah  Dunbar  Spurr,  and 
Samuel  Danforth  Spurr.  The  widow  of  the  latter,  who 
is  now  living,  is  the  mother  of  the  first  wife  of  Senator 
George  F.  Hoar. 


THOMAS    MELVILL. 

Tea  Relic,  as  seen  on  page  131. 

The  publisher,  in  collecting  illustrations  for  Tea  Leaves, 
found  one  or  more  New  England  Societies  claiming  posses- 
sion of  some  of  this  tea.  Therefore  it  was  necessary  to 
look  up  the  original  Melvill  stock  of  Bohea. 

We  show  an  illustration  of  it  (full  size),  copied  from  a 
photograph  (made  by  special  request,)  from  a  relative  living 
in  Illinois  (since  deceased),  from  whom  we  learn  it  has  been 
handed  down  to  the  present  generation,  and  has  never  been 
owned  out  of  the  family,  and  is  now  in  possession  of  Mrs. 
Thomas  Melvill's  son,  Galena,  Illinois,  to  whom  we  are 

indebted  for  its  use  on  this  occasion. 

A.  o.  c. 
41 


INDEX. 


Samuel  Adams, 

Annapolis  Tea-Ship  Burned, 

Biographical  Notices  of  the  Tea  Party, 

Biographical  Sketches ; 

Ancrum,  Wm.    .            .  .         208 

Appleton,   Nathaniel     .  .           30 

Blowers,  S.  S.  .             .  .         352 

Brattle,  Wm.     .             .  .         311 

Bruce,  Capt.       .  .         356 

Bull,  Wm.           .            .  -339 

Cheever,  Ezekiel            .  .           46 

Church,   Dr.   Benjamin  .           26 

Clarke,  R.           .            .  .210 

Coffin,   Capt.       .            .  -358 

Cooper,   Sir  Grey          .  .         212 

Cooper,   William             .  .           43 

Copley,  John  S.            .  .         329 

Crafts,  Thomas              .  .           25 

Curtis,    Obadiah              .  .           49 

Danforth,   Samuel         .  .         315 

Edes,    Benjamin              .  .           25 

Erving,  John      .            .  .         226 

Faneuil,   Benj.    .             .  .         294 

Hall,   Capt.  James         .  .         245 

Hatch,   Nathaniel           .  .         285 

Hewes,    Daniel  ...  49 

Hodgdon,   Alex.             .  .           79 
Hutchinson,   Thos.  &  Elisha  .         324 

Ballads  of  the  Tea  Party, 

Boston.     Opposition  to  the  Tea  Act, 
Tea  Party, 

Destruction  of  the  Tea, 

Proceedings  of  the  Town, 

Proceedings  of  the  Council, 


and  List  of  its  Members,    . 

Johonnot,  Gabriel 
Kelly,  Wm. 
Knox,  Thomas,  Jr., 
Lloyd,   Henry 
Lott,  Abraham 
Levering,  Joseph 
Morris,  John 
Pownall,  John 
Quincy,  Josiah 
Rotch,   Francis 
Rowe,  John 
Royal,   Isaac 
Savage,   Samuel  Phillips 
Scollay,  John 
Tileston,  Thomas 
Wallace,   Hugh  and  Alex. 
Walpole,  Thomas 
Watson,   Brook 
Wendell,  Oliver    . 
Wharton,  Thomas 
White,   Henry 
Williams,  Jonathan 
Williams,  Thomas 
Winslow,  Joshua  . 


19-23,  260-66, 
64-82,  89-94 

58-94, 
279-303 


PAGE 

21 

85 

92-171 

27 
269 

49 
227 
226 

49 

342 

339 

61 

41 

63 

3" 

57 

37 

50 

233 

204 

203 

43 
273 

306 

43 
230 
223 

172-176 
278,  3°3 
95-171 

336-357 
320-36 
309-20 


37°  INDEX. 

PAGE 

Clarke  R.  &  Sons,  Attack  on  Warehouse  of     .  .  .  .28,  266,  284 

Residence  mobbed,  ......         34 

Letter  to  chairman  East  India  Company,  .  .  279-91 

East  India  Company,        .  .  .  .  .  .  .  u,  189 

Franklin,  Benjamin  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .185 

Green  Dragon  Tavern,      .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .66 

Hutchinson,  Thomas          ........  20 

Lamb,  John  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .19 

Letters  and  Documents,    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  189,  370 

Letter  from  Mr.  Wm.  Palmer,  enclosing  Extracts  of  several  Letters  from 
Boston,  &c.,  to  show  the  state  of  the  Tea  Trade  in  America,  and 
estimates  of  the  advantages  that  will  attend  the  Company's  carrying 
on  that  trade  to  that  place,  .  .  .  .  .  .189 

Memorial  of  Mr.  Gilbert  Barkley,  recommending  a  Plan  for  carrying  on 
the  Tea  Trade  to  America,  and  offering  himself,  and  Mr.  John  Inglis, 
Merchant,  of  Philadelphia,  as  agents,  .  .  .  .  .199 

Letter  from  Mr.  Brook  Watson,  to  Daniel  Wier,  Esq.,  recommending  Mr. 
John  Butler,  of  Nova  Scotia,  and  Messrs.  Faneuil  and  Winslow,  of 
Boston,  as  agents,  ........  202 

A  Proposal  of  the  Hon.  Mr.  Walpole's,  for  sending  Tea   to   Philadelphia,         203 

Plan  of  Mr.  Palmer,  for  Exportation  of  Tea  to  America,       .  .  .        205 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Greenwood  &  Higginson,  recommending  Messrs. 
Andrew  Lord,  and  William  and  George  Ancrum,  of  South  Carolina, 
as  Agents,  and  offering  their  ship,  the  "  London,"  Capt.  Curling,  to 
carry  Tea  to  that  place,  .......  208 

Letter  from  Mr  Fred'k  Pigou,  Jun.,  Esq.,  recommending  Pigou  &  Booth, 
of  New  York,  and  James  &  Drinker,  of  Philadelphia,  as  Agents,  and 
offering  vessels  for  those  places,  ......  208 

Letter  from  Mr.  Jonathan  Clarke,  offering  Richard  Clarke  &  Sons,  of 

Boston,  as  Agents,  ......  .  209 

Letter  from  Grey  Cooper,  Esq.,  recommending  Mr.  Barkley  as  an 

Agent,  .....  ....  211 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Roberts  &  Co.,  recommending  Messrs.  Willing, 

Morris  &  Co.,  of  Philadelphia,  as  Agents,  .  .  .  .212 

Letter  from  Mr.  Benjamin  Harrison,  offering  himself  as  an  Agent  for 

Virginia,  .........  213 

Letter  from  Mr.  George  Browne,  recommending  Mr.  Jonathan  Brown,  of 

Philadelphia,  as  an  Agent,  .....  .  214 

Letter  from  Mr.  Wm.  Palmer,  offering  to  advance  the  amount  of  200 

chests  of  Tea,  on  terms  therein  mentioned,  .  .  .  .215 


INDEX.  371 


Letter  to  several  American  Merchants  to  meet  the  Committee,  .  .  215 

Letter  from  Mr.  Gilbert  Barkley,  offering  some  further  thoughts  upon 

the  Exportation,  ........         216 

Letter  from  Samuel  Wharton,  Esq.,  offering  an  Apologyy  for  not  attending 

the  Committee,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .217 

Some  Thoughts  upon  the  Company's  sending  out  Teas  to  America,  .  218 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Watson  &  Rashleigh,  reciting  terms  on  which  the 

Tea    Agency    may    be    conducted,    and    offering    Security    for    their 

recommendation,          ........         222 

Letter  from  Mr.  Jonathan  Clarke,  on  the  same,  ....        224 

Letter  from  Mr.  Kelly,  on  the  same,  and  recommending  several  persons 

of  the  different  Colonies,  as  Agents,  .....  225 

Letter  from  Mr.  Harrison,  that  Mr.  Kelly  will  give  his  Proposals,  .  .  227 

Letter  from  Mr.  John  Blackburn,  with  an  offer  of  Terms,  .  .  .  228 

Letter  to  Samuel  Wharton,  Esq.,  to  meet  the  Committee,  .  .  .  229 

Request  of  Mr.  Walter  Mansell,  for  the  Agency  to  South  Carolina,  .  229 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Roberts  &  Co.,  offering  Terms  and  Security  for 

Willing,  Morris  &  Co.,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .231 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Pigou  &  Booth,  offering  Terms  and  Security  for 

Messrs.  James  &  Drinker,    .......         231 

Letter  from  Mr.  John  Nutt,  recommending  Mr.  Roger  Smith,  of  South 

Carolina,  as  an  Agent,  .......        233 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Bourdieu  &  Chollet,  recommending  several  persons 

as  Agents,        .........         233 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Gale,  Fearon  &  Co.,  recommending  Mr.  Daniel 

Stephenson,  of  Maryland,  as  an  Agent,  .....  234 
Letter  from  Messrs.  Davidson  &  Newman,  declining  any  propositions 

on  the  present  state  of  the  Tea  affair,  .  .  .  .  .235 

Letter  to  several  American  Merchants  to  meet  the  Committee,  .  .  235 

Letter  from  Mr.  Palmer,  upon  the  Rate  of  Exchange  from  Boston,  .  236 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Bourdieu  &  Chollet,  declining  to  offer  any  further 

proposals,          .........        236 

Letter  to  sundry  American  Merchants  to  meet  the  Committee,  .  .  237 

Letter  to  sundry  American  Merchants,  advising  the  quantities  of  Tea 

ordered    to    be    shipped   for  the  several    Colonies,  and   requesting    the 

firm  of  the  houses  they  have  recommended,  ....  238 

Letter  from  Messrs.  Watson  &  Rashleigh,  advising  the  firm  of  their 

recommendation,          ........        238 

Securities  offered  for  Mr.  Barkley  and  Mr.  Mansell,  .  .  .  239 

Letter  from  Mr.  Pigou,  with  the  firm  of  his  recommendation,  .  .  239 

Letters  from  Mr.  Wharton,  Mr.  Browne,  and  Mr.  Kelly,  .  .  .  240 


INDEX. 

FAGS 

Mr.  Palmers  Opinion  in  what  mode  to  ship  Tea  to  America,  .  .         241 

Letter    from    Mr.  Clarke,  with    the    firm   of    his    house,    and    offering    the 

"William"  for  freight,  .......         243 

Letters  to  Geo.  Hayley,  Esq.,  Thos.  Lane,  Esq.,  and  Alexander  Champion, 

Esq.,  to  know   if  they  have  any   constant   traders  to  Boston  or  South 

Carolina,  ready  to  sail,  .  .  .  .  .  .  244 

Letter  to  Mr.  Palmer,  to    point    out  what   sorts  of   Tea   are    proper   to  be 

sent  to  Boston  and  South  Carolina,  .  .  .  .  .         244 

Mr.  Palmer's  Assortment  of  Teas  for  America,  ....         245 

Weight  of  Tea  Exported  to  America,     ......         245 

Letters    from   several    Persons    concerning  Vessels    for    Carrying    the    Tea 

to  America,      .........         245 

Petition    to  the  Lords   of    the  Treasury,    for  Licence   to    Export    Teas    to 

America,  ......... 

Licence  from  the  Lords  of  the  Treasury  to  Export  Teas  to  America, 
Letters    from    Sundry    Gentlemen   relating    to    Vessels    to   carry    Tea     to 

America,  ......... 

Letter   from    Mr.    Settle   to    Mr.    Blackburn    and    Mr.  Kelly,  to    come   and 

Execute  the  Bond,      ........ 

Letters  from  Mr.  Blackburn  and  Mr.  Kelly,  in  reply, 

Sundry  Freight  Bills,  for  Tea  Shipped,  ..... 

So  far  concerns   the   outset  of  the    Tea. 

Note  from    Lord    Dartmouth    to  the    Chairman,  to  attend  at  Whitehall,  on 

the  subject  of  some  Advices  from  America,  respecting  the  Teas,  .  258 
Letters  to  American  Merchants  to  communicate  what  Advices  they  may 

have  received,  ........         258 

Letters  from  American  Merchants,  in  reply,      .....         259 

Letter  from  Mr.  Jonathan  Clarke  to  Mr.  Wheler,  advising  his  arrival  at 

Boston,  .........         260 

Letter  to  Abram  Dupuis,  to  communicate  advice,  referred  in  Mr.  Clarke's 

Letter,       ..........         279 

Messrs.  Clarke  &  Son's  Letter  to  Mr.  Dupuis,  ....         279 

Mr.  Faneuil's  Letter  to  Mr.  Watson,  mentioned  in  Messrs.  Clarke's,  .  292 
Proceedings  of  the  Inhabitants  of  the  Town  of  Boston,  on  the  5th 

and    6th    November,    referred   to    in    Messrs.    Clarke's    and    Faneuil's 

Letters,  .......  .295 

Note  from  the  Secretary  to  Mr.  Brook  Watson,  advising  the  Tea  is 

ordered  to  Halifax,  and  desiring  the  names  of  the  Consignees,  .  304 
Security  offered  for  Messrs.  Butler  &  Cochran,  consignees  at  Halifax,  .  305 


INDEX.  373 


The  Agents  at  New  York's  Petition  to  the  Governor,  referred  to  in  their 

letter  ist  December,  .......  305 

Petition  of  the  Agents  at  Boston,  and  the  Proceedings  of  the  Governor 

and  Council  thereon,  .......  309 

Proceedings  of  the  Town  of  Boston  on  the  29th  and  3oth  November,        .  320 

Letter  signed  "  Anglo  Americanus,"  addressed  to  Geo.  Dudley,  Esq., 

enclosing  newspapers,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  331 

Letter  signed  "Anglo  Americanus,"  addressed  to  Geo.  Dudley,  Esq., 

advising  the  Tea's  being  destroyed,  .....  332 

Note  from  Mr.  Pownall,  to  communicate  Advices,  and  enclosing  Letter 
from  Lieut.-Gov.  Bull,  of  Charles  Town  ;  also,  Lieut.-Gov.  Bull's 

Letter,  .  .  ......  339 

Letter  from  Mr.  Jo.  Morris,  to  Corbyn  Morris,  Esq.,  advising  of  the  Tea's 

being  seized  at  South  Carolina,  ......  342 

Letter  from  Capt.  Ellis,  advising  of  the  Tea's  being  seized  at  South 

Carolina,  .........  343 

Questions  proposed  to  the  Boston  Consignees,  respecting  landing  the 

Teas,  .  .......  344 

Protest  of  Capt.  Bruce  against  said  Consignees,  for  refusing  to  receive 

the  Teas,  .........  346 

Letter  from  Mr.  Rotch,  to  said  Consignees,  with  an  account  of  Charges 

and  a  Protest,  .  .  .  .  .  •  .  .  350 

Protests  of  the  several  Captains  against  the  Destroyers  of  the  Tea,            .  353 

Letters  from  the  Agents  at  New  York,  &c.,  to  Capt.  Lockyer,  and  one  from 

him  to  them,  .........  359 

Proceedings  of  the  Inhabitants  of  Philadelphia,  on  the  measure  of  Ex- 
porting Tea  to  that  place,  .......  361 

Liberty  Tree,          .....                        ...  24 

Long  Room  (Whig)  Club,              .......  66 

New  York.     Opposition  to  the  Tea  Act,  .  .  .  i6-'9,  269-271 

Arrival  of  Tea,         .......  84-5 

Petition  of  the  Consignees  to  the  Governor,      .             .             .  305 

Letter  from  the  Agents  to  Capt.  Lockyer,           .             .             .  358-60 

North-End  Caucus,            .            .            .            .            .            .            .            .  23,  67 

Philadelphia  lends  Opposition  to  Tea  Act,        .  .  .  .  .17 

Tea  sent  back,         .......  84 

Proposed  Tea  Depot  in  America,             ....  203 

Opposition  to  the  Tea  Act,  ....  272-277 

Resolves  and  Proceedings  of  October  18,           .            .            .  361-65 

St.  Andrew's  Masonic  Lodge  of  Boston,           .....  66 


374 


INDEX. 


Sons  of  Liberty,     . 

South  Carolina,  Proceedings  at  . 

Spurr,  John, 

Tea  Act,      .... 

Introduced  into  New  England, 

Consignees,     . 

Guard  on  Boston  tea-ship, 

State  of  Tea  Trade  in  America, 

Shipments  to  America, 
Warren,  Gen.  Joseph 

Additions,     .... 


1 8,  24,  26 

84-85,  339-43 
164 

12 

'4 
23,  36,  51-53 

•     45-5° 

191-98 

.     256-7 

.         178 

367 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 

Tea  Leaves,  on  cover,      ........ 

Destruction  of  the  Tea  in  Boston  Harbor,       ....     Frontispiece. 

Diagram  Showing  the  Route  from  the  Old  South  Church  to  Griffin's  Wharf,          75 
Melvill's  Tea  Relic,  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .131 

Edward  Proctor's  Proclamation,  .  .  .  .  .  .148 

Lord  North  Forcing  the  Tea  down  the  Throat  of  America,  .  .         155 

Location  of  Tea  Wharf,    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .173 

Plan  of  Boston,  1775,  and  the  Burning  of  Charlestown,         .  .  .        264 


PORTRAITS. 


Adams,  Samuel     .            .  .  299 

Bradlee,  Nathaniel            .  .  97 

Franklin,  Benjamin           .  .  185 

Gage,  Gov.  Thomas         .  .  313 

Hancock,  John      .  .  288 

Hutchinson,  Gov    Thomas  .  308 

Hewes,  George  Robert  Twelves  1 1 7 

Kennison,  David  .  122 

Lovering,  Thomas             .  .  182 

Melvill,  Thomas    .             .  133 


Melvill,  Thomas,  Hat  on 

North,  Lord 

Pitts,  Lendall 

Purkitt,  Henry      . 

Revere,  Paul 

Rotch,  Francis 

Rowe,  John 

Savage,  Samuel  Phillips 

Sprague,  Samuel  . 

Warren,  Joseph     . 


1 80 
249 
142 

151 

157 
40 
62 

338 
164 


INDEX. 


375 


AUTOGRAPHS. 


Adams,  Samuel     . 
Bradlee,  Nathaniel 
Bradlee,  David 
Bass,  Henry 
Church,  Benjamin 
Cheever,  Ezekiel 
Chase,  Thomas 
Clarke,  Benjamin 
Crane,  John 
Franklin,  Benjamin 
Faneuil,  Benjamin,  Jr.,    . 
Frothingham,  Nathaniel  . 
Green,  Nathaniel 
Grant,  Moses 
Gore,  Samuel 
Hodgdon,  Alexander 
Hancock,  John 
Hutchinson,  Thomas 
Inches,  Henderson 
Kennison,  David  . 
Lovering,  Joseph  . 
Lincoln,  Amos 
Lee,  Joseph 
Molineux,  William 


299 
97 
97 
96 
26 
46 

IO2 
103 
1  08 
I8S 

294 
III 
114 


79 
288 
308 

27 

122 
182 
I2S 
124 
137 


Melvill,  Thomas   . 
Newell,  Eliphelet 
Purkitt,  Henry 
Prentice,  Henry    • 
Pitts,  Lendall, 
Peck,  Samuel 
Palmer,  Joseph  P. 
Proctor,  Edward  . 
Russell,  John 
Revere,  Paul 
Rowe,  John 
Rotch,  Francis 
Swan,  James 
Sprague,  Samuel  . 
Sloper,  Samuel 
Shed,  Joseph 
Sessions,  Robert  . 
Savage,  Samuel  Phillips 
Urann,  Thomas     . 
Winslow,  Joshua  . 
Williams,  Jonathan 
Warren,  Joseph     . 
Wyeth,  Joseph 


PAGE 

135 
138 
150 

146 

145 

140 

139 
149 

159 
154 

63 

41 

1 68 
164 
162 
161 
r  60 

57 

169 

223 

43 

3° 

171 


